Who designed Canada's flag?

George Stanley, a historian at Mount Allison University, designed the flag based on the Royal Military College banner. Graphic artist Jacques St-Cyr refined the maple leaf from 13 points to 11 after wind tunnel testing showed the original lost detail from a distance.

What was the Great Flag Debate?

The Great Flag Debate was a heated parliamentary fight in 1964 over replacing the Red Ensign with a new flag. Over 250 speeches were delivered before a vote was forced at 2:15 AM on December 15, 1964. The maple leaf design won 163 to 78.

What flag did Canada use before?

Canada flew the Canadian Red Ensign, which featured the British Union Jack in the upper left corner. Many English Canadians felt strong attachment to this flag and its British connection. The debate over replacing it became one of the most emotional moments in Canadian history.

Is there a Canadian flag day?

February 15 is National Flag of Canada Day, proclaimed in 1996 by Governor General Romeo LeBlanc. Canadians celebrate by flying the flag and sharing photos online. The day honors the moment in 1965 when the maple leaf was raised on Parliament Hill for the first time.

How many flag designs existed?

Canada received roughly 5,000 flag designs from citizens during the 1964 debate. A committee of 15 members of Parliament reviewed submissions over several weeks. The final choice came down to two designs before the single maple leaf won in a dramatic political maneuver.

February 15: The Drama Behind Canada's Maple Leaf Flag

Q: Why does the leaf have 11 points?

The original design had 13 points, but wind tunnel testing at the National Research Council showed the leaf blurred from a distance. Graphic artist Jacques St-Cyr redesigned it with 11 points for a cleaner, more recognizable silhouette that stayed sharp in any conditions.

How a wind tunnel test and a 2 AM vote gave Canada its flag

On February 15, 1965, Canada raised its maple leaf flag after a dramatic national debate involving 5,000 designs, 250 speeches, and a vote forced at 2 AM.

Key Facts

Inauguration Date

February 15, 1965, at noon on Parliament Hill in Ottawa

Designer

George Stanley, a historian at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick

Leaf Points

11 points, redesigned from the original 13 after wind tunnel testing

Graphic Artist

Jacques St-Cyr refined the leaf design for maximum visibility at a distance

Flag Submissions

Roughly 5,000 designs submitted by Canadian citizens during the debate

Parliamentary Speeches

Over 250 speeches delivered during the Great Flag Debate of 1964

Final Vote

163 to 78 in the House of Commons at 2:15 AM on December 15, 1964

Royal Proclamation

Signed by Queen Elizabeth II on January 28, 1965

Ceremony Attendance

Ten thousand Canadians gathered in the cold to watch the flag raising

Previous Flag

The Canadian Red Ensign featuring the British Union Jack

National Flag Day

February 15 proclaimed National Flag of Canada Day in 1996

Peace Tower Wait List

Over 100 years to receive a flag that flew on Parliament Hill

About February 15: The Drama Behind Canada's Maple Leaf Flag

On February 15, 1965, ten thousand Canadians gathered on Parliament Hill to watch a new flag rise above the Peace Tower. The red and white maple leaf now recognized worldwide almost never happened. Behind it lies a story of political trickery, wind tunnel science, and a 2 AM vote that tore Parliament apart.

The Great Flag Debate That Divided a Nation

Canada spent nearly a century without its own distinct flag. By 1964, the country still flew the Canadian Red Ensign featuring the British Union Jack. Prime Minister Lester Pearson wanted a flag without colonial symbols. Opposition leader John Diefenbaker demanded the Union Jack remain. What followed was one of the most heated debates in Canadian history.

5,000 Designs and 250 Speeches Later

Parliament received roughly 5,000 flag submissions from citizens across the country. A committee of 15 members spent weeks reviewing designs. The debate stretched through 250 speeches before Parliament forced a vote at 2:15 in the morning on December 15, 1964. The maple leaf won 163 to 78.

The Political Trick That Chose the Winner

The final contest pitted Pearson's three leaf pennant against George Stanley's single maple leaf. Conservatives voted for Stanley's design assuming Liberals would pick their Prime Minister's version. The Liberals switched sides and also chose Stanley's flag, making the selection unanimous.

Why the Maple Leaf Has Exactly 11 Points

Stanley's original sketch featured a 13 point leaf. Researchers tested a model in the National Research Council's wind tunnel and found that 13 points blurred from a distance. Graphic artist Jacques St-Cyr redesigned the leaf with 11 points, creating the crisp shape now recognized on everything from backpacks to Olympic uniforms.

An Emotional Moment on Parliament Hill

Ten thousand Canadians braved the cold to watch the ceremony on Parliament Hill. On inauguration day, as the maple leaf rose at the stroke of noon, Diefenbaker dabbed tears from his eyes with a handkerchief. The man who fought hardest against the flag watched it fly for the first time just feet away.

A 100 Year Wait for a Peace Tower Flag

Canadians love their flag so much that Parliament changes the Peace Tower flag daily to meet requests from citizens who want one that flew over the building. The wait list now exceeds 100 years. February 15 is National Flag of Canada Day, honoring the moment a divided nation found its symbol.

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Historical Analysis

⚡Historical Significance

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The Great Flag Debate of 1964 was one of the most emotionally charged moments in Canadian parliamentary history, stretching through 250 speeches and forcing a vote at 2:15 in the morning.
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Canada operated for nearly a century without its own distinct national flag, using the Canadian Red Ensign that still featured the British Union Jack and symbolized colonial ties.
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George Stanley's letter to John Matheson on March 23, 1964, containing the first sketch of what would become the chosen design, became one of the most important documents in Canadian cultural history.

📝Critical Reception

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Opposition leader John Diefenbaker passionately argued that removing the Union Jack from the flag meant abandoning Canada's founding heritage and British roots, reflecting deep divisions between English and French Canadians.
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The flag debate became so personal that citizens across the country wrote passionate letters to Parliament, showing how deeply the question of national identity resonated with ordinary Canadians.
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The final committee vote became one of Canadian politics' most famous tactical maneuvers when the Liberals outmaneuvered the Conservatives by switching their vote to Stanley's design and making the selection unanimous.

🌍Cultural Impact

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The maple leaf flag gave Canada a distinct visual identity separate from Britain for the first time, allowing the country to project its own image on the world stage.
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The flag became one of the most recognizable national symbols globally, appearing on everything from backpacks worn by travelers to Olympic uniforms and peacekeeping missions.
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National Flag of Canada Day on February 15 became a celebration of Canadian identity, with the demand for flags flown over the Peace Tower creating a wait list that now exceeds 100 years.

Before & After

📅Before

Before February 15, 1965, Canada had no flag that was distinctly its own. The Canadian Red Ensign featured the British Union Jack prominently, visually linking Canada to its colonial past. The country lacked a single unifying symbol that all Canadians could rally behind regardless of their English or French heritage. Internationally, Canada was often visually associated with Britain rather than recognized as a fully independent nation.

🚀After

After the maple leaf flag was raised on Parliament Hill, Canada gained an instantly recognizable national symbol that transcended the English and French divide. The flag became one of the most beloved national emblems in the world, sewn onto backpacks by travelers, flown at Olympic ceremonies, and recognized globally as a symbol of peacekeeping and inclusion. The demand for flags that flew over Parliament Hill grew so large that the wait list now exceeds 100 years, proving that the controversial decision created a symbol Canadians deeply cherish.

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Did You Know?

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Queen Elizabeth II signed the royal proclamation for the new flag on January 28, 1965

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Diefenbaker was seen dabbing tears as the maple leaf flag rose for the first time

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The wait list for a flag that flew over Parliament Hill now exceeds 100 years

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Wind tunnel testing at the National Research Council shaped the final leaf design

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The Conservatives accidentally helped choose the flag by trying to block it

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Canada received roughly 5,000 flag designs from citizens during the 1964 debate

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Why It Still Matters Today

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February 15 is celebrated annually as National Flag of Canada Day, with Canadians sharing photos and flying flags to honor the 1965 inauguration

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The maple leaf has become one of the most recognized national symbols in the world, representing Canadian values of peace, inclusion, and humanitarianism

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The flag's design process remains a fascinating case study in how political drama, scientific testing, and graphic design can combine to create a lasting national symbol

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Parliament changes the Peace Tower flag daily to meet citizen requests, and the wait list now exceeds 100 years, showing how deeply Canadians value the symbol

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The story of the Great Flag Debate reminds Canadians that the symbols they take for granted were hard won through passionate democratic debate and compromise

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Test Your Knowledge

How much do you know? Take this quick quiz to find out!

1. Why does Canada's maple leaf have exactly 11 points?

2. How many flag designs did Canada receive during the 1964 debate?

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Original Insights

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The Conservatives accidentally chose the winning flag by voting for Stanley's design as a strategic move to block Pearson's pennant, only to have the Liberals switch sides and make the vote unanimous

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George Stanley became a national figure overnight after the flag adoption, with Canadians on both sides of the debate recognizing him as the man who gave the country its most iconic symbol

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The maple leaf was tested in the National Research Council's wind tunnel, where researchers discovered the original 13 point design lost all detail when flapping in the wind from a distance

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Opposition leader Diefenbaker, who fought hardest to prevent the new flag, was photographed dabbing tears with a handkerchief as the maple leaf rose above Parliament Hill for the first time

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The demand for Peace Tower flags became so overwhelming that Parliament started changing the flag daily in 1998, yet the wait list still grew to over 100 years

Frequently Asked Questions

Canada officially adopted the red and white maple leaf flag on February 15, 1965. The flag was raised for the first time at noon on Parliament Hill in Ottawa before a crowd of ten thousand people. Queen Elizabeth II signed the royal proclamation on January 28, 1965.

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Sources & References

The History of the National Flag of Canada

The Great Flag Debate

The Stanley Flag and the Distinctive Canadian Symbol

Image of a Nation: The Maple Leaf at 60

Lester Pearson Raises Maple Leaf Flag, February 15, 1965

This article is reviewed by the Pagefacts team.

Editorial Approach:

This article goes beyond the basic timeline of Canada's flag adoption to reveal the dramatic political maneuvering, wind tunnel science, emotional ceremony, and 100 year wait list that transformed a passionate national debate into one of the world's most recognized and beloved national symbols.