Our Emblem and Herald: The National Flag of Canada

Among the most important symbols for this new flag to contain was an unambiguous sense of unity. Unity as one country, one people under one flag. Canada has historically been divided among ethnic, linguistic, regional and cultural lines. For any new flag to achieve acceptance among the majority of the different peoples of Canada, it must contain only elements which represent each and every Canadian. The Union Jack present in the Red Ensign was unpopular among French Canadians to whom it represented a long-time foe. First Nations peoples regarded it as the emblem of a colonial oppressor. And even many Anglophone Canadians felt that the Jack was indicative of the old system of British domination, one that they hoped to continue to distance themselves from. The French Fleur-de-Lys was rejected for similar reasons. Rather, a uniquely Canadian symbol was selected: the maple leaf. For over a hundred years it had been associated with Canada, and was featured in military banners, uniforms and the national Coat of Arms. Pearson originally proposed a design of three maple leaves joined at the stem. To better emphasize the sentiment of one nation and one people a single maple leaf was suggested and finally incorporated into the final design. The maple leaf was neither English nor French, European nor indigenous, neither a maritime nor prairie nor arctic symbol: it was and remains today the emblem of Canada united.