Few symbols are as familiar to Canadians as the flag first raised on February 15, 1965: a single red maple leaf on a white square set between two red borders. The design is credited to George Stanley, a historian who suggested it, while the finished artwork was prepared by Jacques Saint-Cyr. Before this, the country had flown the Red Ensign, which carried the Union Jack in one corner, a reminder of Canada's long ties to Britain.
The choice was not made quietly. Through much of 1964 the country was gripped by what came to be called the Great Flag Debate, and feelings ran high on every side. Prime Minister Lester Pearson championed the idea of a distinctly Canadian banner, and an all-party committee was formed to settle the matter. Its members sifted through thousands of submitted designs before choosing the maple leaf as a symbol that Canadians of every background could share. The new flag soon became a genuine source of national pride.
