On Sunday, Canadians celebrated the 50th birthday of our Maple Leaf flag. Although the current federal government has tried to ignore the anniversary, Canadians have embraced the flag as a symbol of their nationhood.
In the debate over the new flag, veterans and many who valued sa国际传媒鈥檚 ties to Britain were outraged that the Red Ensign, under which, they said, Canadian soldiers had fought in two world wars, would be cast aside.
In fact, the ensign was never sa国际传媒鈥檚 official flag, despite its common use. Until the Maple Leaf was raised on Feb. 15, 1965, sa国际传媒鈥檚 official flag was the Royal Union Flag, usually called the Union Jack.
As sa国际传媒鈥檚 centennial year approached, prime minister Lester Pearson wanted the country to have a flag that was unmistakably its own. The red Maple Leaf was not his favourite design, but it was the recommendation of an all-party committee of Parliament.
With the controversy largely forgotten, Canadians have poured into that simple flag their identity as a nation. Its adoption helped to define us as something more than a colony; we were a country with our own values and goals. It helped us stake out our place in the world.
Beneath it, generations of Canadians have grown up and tens of thousands of new Canadians have been welcomed into the family.
Perhaps when the 100th birthday rolls around, the federal government of the day will spend more than $50,000 on a party.
