Canada .ca

Meaning of the Flag

The national flag of Canada, popularly referred to as the Maple Leaf, consists of a red field with a white square at its centre in the horizontal ratio of 1∶2∶1, in which is featured one stylized, red, 11-pointed maple leaf charged in the centre. It is the first flag to have been adopted by both houses of Parliament and officially proclaimed by the Canadian monarch as the country's official national flag. A joint committee of the Senate and House of Commons was appointed on November 8, 1945, to recommend a national flag to officially adopt. Pearson gained power and decided to adopt a flag through parliamentary debate. The Liberals, though, all voted for the single-leaf design, as did the members from the other two parties, giving a unanimous 15 to 0 vote for the option created by George Stanley and inspired by the flag of the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in Kingston, Ontario.

Meaning of Flag Colors

Red, White

Flag History

1. 1621
   As the de facto British national flag, the Union Flag (commonly known as the "Union Jack") was used similarly in Canada from the time of British settlement in Nova Scotia after 1621.
2. 1957–1965
   

   Flag in use 1957–1965.
3. 1965–present
   

   Current national flag, in use since 1965.

Location