Happy Canada Day: The Maple Leaf Forever

Picture this: You're walking in a museum somewhere in Europe when you spot another Canadian traveller, a red maple leaf patch sewn prominently on their backpack. You ask them where they are from and have your best friendly Canadian small talk ready. Except there's one problem—they're not Canadian at all.

This phenomenon, dubbed "flag-jacking," has American travellers donning the maple leaf like a diplomatic shield, banking on Canada's sterling international reputation to smooth their way through lines and conversations. But while they're busy appropriating our symbol, they're missing the profound story woven into those eleven red points.

As Canada celebrates its 158th birthday today, with our flag flying proudly from the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill to countless front porches across the nation, it's worth asking: what exactly are these American imposters claiming as their own? The answer reveals a uniquely Canadian tale and the unlikely journey of how a simple leaf became one of the world's most recognized—and apparently coveted—national symbols.

If our southern neighbours truly understood what they're co-opting, they might think twice about their flag-borrowing habits.

Research shows that Canada’s red and white flag is as well known as America’s Star and Stripes, the United Kingdom’s Union Jack, Japan’s rising sun and China’s stars on a red background. That’s quite a feat considering the small size of our population and the fact that our flag first flew on Parliament Hill a mere 60 years ago.

Our flag, which has become synonymous with Canada—a land of opportunity, democracy, freedom, diversity, respect and natural beauty—has a history rich in symbolism. The story deserves to be celebrated.

For millennia, the maple leaf has been associated with our land, both literally and figuratively. Before Canada became a country, indigenous peoples recognized the value of that tree for tools, fuel, and construction, as well as its sap for remedies and sustenance. Drawing on their knowledge, we continue to use maple wood and sap in much the same way.

The maple leaf has been part of Canada’s history for centuries. In the early 1700s, French Canadians along the Saint Lawrence River adopted the maple leaf as an emblem of their region. In 1834, the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste, an institution dedicated to the protection of francophone interests, chose the increasingly iconic leaf as an emblem because the maple was seen as “the king of our forest… the symbol of the Canadian people.”

Some thirty years later, the Prince of Wales presented the 100^th Regiment with “colours” featuring the maple leaf, marking the first official recognition of this as a Canadian symbol.

Notwithstanding the symbolism of the maple leaf, when Canada became a country in 1867, the Fathers of Confederation chose the Union Jack as its flag. It was eventually replaced by the Red Ensign—a flag combining the Union Jack and Canadian Coat of Arms on a red background.

Years of debate followed about Canada’s independence and identity. As the country matured, it became more important to create a unique symbol. A campaign to develop our flag was launched in earnest in 1921. It took another 35 years before a Gallup survey showed that 85 percent of Canadians approved of having a new national flag, and the government seized that openness to forge ahead, despite resistance from very vocal monarchists.

There is one visionary we need to thank for this important symbol of nationhood: former Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson. While he is justly admired for having been awarded the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize, one of Pearson’s greatest achievements might be his leadership role in the creation of the iconic Canadian flag.

In 1963, newly elected Liberal Prime Minister Pearson promised to resolve the "Great Flag Debate" by Canada's 1967 centennial, viewing a new national flag as essential to unifying the country and demonstrating independence from Britain.

Through persistence and persuasion, and following a review by a parliamentary committee of 5,000 flag submissions from across Canada, the government found a way to overcome the roadblocks placed by Members of Parliament who wanted to preserve the Union Jack and the Red Ensign. The flag debates, which took up 37 acrimonious days in the House of Commons, concluded with the approval of the well-known red 11-pointed maple leaf design on a white and red background, the red elements representing the bright fall colours we enjoy thanks to those majestic trees.

On January 28, 1965, Queen Elizabeth II signed a proclamation declaring the maple leaf the National Flag of Canada. On February 15, it was raised on Parliament Hill in Ottawa for the first time after the final lowering of the Red Ensign.

Our flag has had quite a journey since then. In 1982, mountaineer Laurie Skreslet carried the flag to the summit of Mount Everest. Two years later, the flag accompanied Canada’s first astronaut, Marc Garneau, on the flight of NASA’s Challenger. Canada’s biggest flag, measuring 140 meters by 70 meters (much larger than a hockey rink), was created by Canadian immigrant Zen Zhong Li to celebrate his new country’s 150^th anniversary. Our flag is proudly displayed at sporting events and global gatherings, such as the recent G7 meeting held in Kananaskis, Alberta. It is also prominently—and legitimately—displayed by Canadians while travelling abroad.

Since February, Canada has been threatened with annexation by Donald Trump, and continues to be offended by the imposition of steep tariffs given the closeness of our relationship. The net effect is that Canadians are prouder than ever and have rallied around our national flag at an unprecedented level.

The maple leaf is a unifying symbol for all Canadians regardless of their background, language or beliefs. Our flag represents our shared values, our heritage, our connection to the land and is a symbol of one of the most peaceful and prosperous countries in the world. Today, Mr. Pearson would be delighted to know that the Canadian identity he fostered is loved in our country and respected the world over.

We are proud that our maple leaf flag is a symbol of our welcoming, open country. It deserves to be celebrated today and every day—by Canadians. And admired from afar—by everyone else, flag-jackers included.

Happy Canada Day! Bonne fête du Canada!

---

Sylvie Lamoureux lives in Cantley, Quebec, and is a founder of Postcards from Canada. The Canadian flag's creation is part of her family's folklore. As Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons in the early 1960s, her father, Lucien Lamoureux, and Speaker Alan Macnaughton handled those acrimonious debates for six weeks—including 250 speeches by MPs and much heckling by opponents—until the final, successful vote was called at 2:15 am on December 15, 1964. You are invited to consult the website of the Canadian Flag Education Centre for more stories about our national emblem.