60th anniversary for the Canadian flag on February 15

Feb 15, 2025 | 6:00 AM

The Canadian flag is making a milestone this year.

This Flag Day, February 15, will mark 60 years since the Maple Leaf flag first flew on Parliament Hill.

According to the federal government’s website, the Union Jack was Canada’s first flag.

The Canadian Red Ensign was then used, but there were two different designs.

One with green leaves on the coat of arms was used from 1921 to 1957, followed by one with red leaves from 1957 until 1965.

Two other designs were also considered, one resembling the current one, but with the French royal flag featured in one upper corner and the Union Jack in the other.

There was also one with three maple leaves, similar to the leaves on the coat of arms on a white field with blue stripes on either side. This design became known as the Pearson Pennant as it was the one preferred by then Prime Minister Lester Pearson.

The government’s website also says that the design that we use today was created by Dr. George Stanley and was based on the flag of the Royal Military College. Stanley was the Dean or Arts at the school at the time and had served in the Canadian Army before that.

by Curtis Galbraith