Lester Pearson and The Canadian Flag

Kim Lu, Hirdapaul Dhillon, & Sahil Gupta

The Canadian Flag TimelineThe Canadian Flag Timeline

Significance of:Significance of:• The Maple Leaf• The Canadian Colours• Mackenzie King’s efforts in

Parliament• Lester Pearson

Significance of:Significance of:• The Maple Leaf• The Canadian Colours• Mackenzie King’s efforts in

Parliament• Lester Pearson

Significance of the Union FlagSignificance of the Union Flag

• In the early days of Canadian Confederation the Royal Union flag, or Union Jack, was still flown in British North America.

• The Red Ensign, with a Union Jack in the upper left corner and a shield containing the coats of arms of the Canadian provinces, was used as the unofficial flag of Canada from about 1870 to 1924.

• In the early days of Canadian Confederation the Royal Union flag, or Union Jack, was still flown in British North America.

• The Red Ensign, with a Union Jack in the upper left corner and a shield containing the coats of arms of the Canadian provinces, was used as the unofficial flag of Canada from about 1870 to 1924.

Canadian Flag Proposals 1946-1965

Canadian Flag Proposals 1946-1965

Lester Pearson's preferred choice for a new flag was nicknamed "the Pearson Pennant".Pearson’s first design featured the three maple leaves on a bluebackground, but that design was not vexillologically correct.

1957 version of the Canadian Red Ensign that had evolved as the de facto national flag until 1965.

http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/flagforcanada/proposals.html#

Significance of the Maple LeafSignificance of the Maple Leaf

• 1834- Maple Leaf was made the emblem for the first St. Jean Baptiste Society

• 1904- Every Canadian Olympic athlete has a maple leaf on their uniform.

• 1914- Maple leaf is incorporated in the badge of Canadian Expeditionary force during WW1.

• 1957- Colour of the maple leaves on the Arms of Canada flag were changed from green to red.

• 1834- Maple Leaf was made the emblem for the first St. Jean Baptiste Society

• 1904- Every Canadian Olympic athlete has a maple leaf on their uniform.

• 1914- Maple leaf is incorporated in the badge of Canadian Expeditionary force during WW1.

• 1957- Colour of the maple leaves on the Arms of Canada flag were changed from green to red.

Pearson chooses a flag with two vertical blue stripes - the 'Pearson

Pennant'.

Olympic athletes sporting the maple leaf.

WWII tanks sporting the maple leaf.It seems that everyone has

an opinion about the new flag.

Significance of the Maple LeafSignificance of the Maple Leaf

• 1964- George Stanley proposes the one maple leaf on white with two red bars.

• Nov 7th 1964- Jacque, a government designer, creates the flag with 13-point maple leaf.

• 1964- George Stanley proposes the one maple leaf on white with two red bars.

• Nov 7th 1964- Jacque, a government designer, creates the flag with 13-point maple leaf.

Significance of the Canadian Colours Significance of the Canadian Colours • 1921- Canada’s official colours were proclaimed

to be red and white by King George V.

• 1957- Colour of the maple leaves on Arms of Canada flag were changed from green to red.

• 1964- George Stanley proposes the one maple leaf on white with two red bars.

• May 1964- Pearson is booed on stage by angry veterans when he introduces “person pennant”, that the red ensign would no longer serve to needs of Canadians.

• 1921- Canada’s official colours were proclaimed to be red and white by King George V.

• 1957- Colour of the maple leaves on Arms of Canada flag were changed from green to red.

• 1964- George Stanley proposes the one maple leaf on white with two red bars.

• May 1964- Pearson is booed on stage by angry veterans when he introduces “person pennant”, that the red ensign would no longer serve to needs of Canadians.

http://archives.cbc.ca/400d.asp?id=1-73-80-297

Significance of M. King’s Efforts in Parliament

Significance of M. King’s Efforts in Parliament

• PM M.King tries to get parliamentary committee to find possible designs for a new flag but the final report failed to occur.

• PM M.King appoints another parliamentary committee for flag designs. Problems occurred; English speaking Canadians opposed the Union Jack while French speaking Canadians opposed all foreign symbols from the flag.

• PM M.King tries to get parliamentary committee to find possible designs for a new flag but the final report failed to occur.

• PM M.King appoints another parliamentary committee for flag designs. Problems occurred; English speaking Canadians opposed the Union Jack while French speaking Canadians opposed all foreign symbols from the flag.

Significance of Lester PearsonSignificance of Lester Pearson

• June 1964- The flag debate starts in the House, it goes on for weeks and the PM refuses to allow a parliamentary recess.

• October 1964- John Matheson sneaks in the George Stanley design for the flag into the committee room.

• October 22, 1964- In a secret sudden death ballot the George Stanley design wins 14-nothing.

• June 1964- The flag debate starts in the House, it goes on for weeks and the PM refuses to allow a parliamentary recess.

• October 1964- John Matheson sneaks in the George Stanley design for the flag into the committee room.

• October 22, 1964- In a secret sudden death ballot the George Stanley design wins 14-nothing.

• http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/flagforcanada/proposals.html#• http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/flagforcanada/proposals.html#• http://archives.cbc.ca/400d.asp?id=1-73-80-301

Timeline Cont’dTimeline Cont’d• November 9, 1964- Two of the

bottom points are removed and PM gives blessing for the flag, it is now complete but still needs to be able to pass a free vote in the House to be able to flown.

• Dec 15, 1964- The single leaf flag is accepted with votes of 163 to 78.

• February 15, 1965- The official flag of Canada is flown for the first time.

• November 9, 1964- Two of the bottom points are removed and PM gives blessing for the flag, it is now complete but still needs to be able to pass a free vote in the House to be able to flown.

• Dec 15, 1964- The single leaf flag is accepted with votes of 163 to 78.

• February 15, 1965- The official flag of Canada is flown for the first time.

•http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/sc-cs/df2_e.cfm

• http://archives.cbc.ca/400d.asp?id=1-73-80-303