A New Flag for a Diverse Canada

At the time of its unveiling, the Maple Leaf flag of Canada represented and addressed steadily increasing nationalist feelings amongst Canadians. During the fifty years before the new flag was unveiled, Canada had been taking many steps towards full autonomy from its mother­land of Britain. Much of the progress that had been made came due to Canada’s role in the world wars, especially with her role in events such as the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the D­day landings, and the liberation of the Netherlands. These contributions to the Allied effort in World Wars One and Two gained Canada international recognition apart from Britain and helped move the nation closer to full autonomy. However, all of these advances had been made under the Red Ensign flag of Canada. Opposition leader John Diefenbaker stressed that through the wars, the Red Ensign of Canada had already established Canada on the world stage. He believed that the Red Ensign, when associated with Canada’s involvement in the world wars, already distinctly symbolized Canada’s progressing autonomy from Britain. However, Prime Minister Pearson believed that a Canadian flag featuring the British symbol would, in actuality, prevent Canada from ever becoming fully autonomous from Britain.