Real Canadian Flag Facts

Posted by Chris Lennon on 11th Feb 2012

Prior to the Maple Leaf, Canada's official flag was the Union Flag. The Red Ensign was always unofficial and in truth, was the flag of the Governor General. Although some may differ, the vast majority of Canadians were and remain proud of the country's British heritage. From Queenston Hights to Paardeberg, Amiens, Normandy and Kap Yong, the Union Flag was our warriors rallying point. It remains the official symbol of the Canadian Monarchy.
The red and white of the Maple Flag have nothing to do with spilled blood or snow, but rather the influnence that the flag of the Royal Military College in Kingston had on the committee that chose the flag.
So why a new flag at all? It was time. Canada had grown up and Britain was no longer a guardian, but an equal. An equal we somwtimes disagreed with, such as during the Suez Crisis. In order for Canada to grow and prosper, it needed symbols unique to itself. The Maple Flag is now one of the most recognized and beloved emblems on this planet. It is a symbol of hope and refuge to hundreds of millions of freedom loving people.