Posted on 12/31/2013 5:57:48 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Canada's "maple leaf" is one of the most readily recognized flags on earth. Meet the man who was given six weeks to come up with it, back in 1964.
From pop artist Charles Pachter’s series of Canadian flag paintings:
Will the flag he championed fly at half-mast?
That was my first thought upon hearing that World War II veteran-turned Member of Parliament John Ross Matheson passed away last Friday.
Given his keen amateur interest in heraldry, Matheson was the perfect choice to lead Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson’s quest to create a new Canadian flag, one that would symbolically separate the former colony from Great Britain.
Canada’s unofficial flag had long been the “Red Ensign,” a combination of the British Union Jack and the Canadian coat of arms.
It’s true: almost a hundred years after Confederation, we still had no official national flag.
As the big centenary neared, the Liberal government figured we’d better finally get our act together.
Not everyone was enthusiastic about getting rid of the Red Ensign, of course.
As tends to happen up here, whatever the ostensible topic, the resulting parliamentary debate turned into a sometimes heated national conversation about “Canadian identity.”
A committee was struck and informed that they had six weeks to come up with a design. (Nope, not “months” or “years.”)
The committee asked Canadians to send in suggestions, with predictable results.
I like the one with one of The Beatles in each corner — it was 1964, after all.
And to this day, not everyone loves the final design. I doubt I’m the first person to opine that a dead leaf — basically tree dandruff — isn’t the noblest national symbol.
However, I can’t deny that purely from a design (and therefore, a marketing) perspective, Canada’s new flag has been a great success.
Just ask the countless Americans who supposedly sew them onto their knapsacks before their treks through Europe, hoping for warmer welcomes.
During his tenure, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has achieved what many would’ve called impossible: He’s made it “cool” for Canadians to show their patriotism through flag waving, long scorned as an “American” gesture.
Yet I doubt that before today, many younger Canadians could name “the father of the flag.”
This widely aired, corny old “Heritage Minute” commercial celebrates John Matheson’s efforts. I expect it will be getting quite a few hits this week.
isn’t it the butt of jokes around the world?
canadians always seem to be easy robbery pickings.
(see popular culter reaction of “Dr. Who” character when he realizes the guns pointed at him are Americans!)
re The Maple Leaf Forever
Back in the late 50’s I attended Alexander Muir public school in Toronto for a few years. Of course we all learned the song. Later on, after Trudeau was elected, the school’s name was changed to Gladstone Ave. school (it’s address). Coincidence?
But thinking about the song, I don’t think the Quebecois like the line about “Wolfe, the dauntless hero”. Me? I love that song !!
They definitely would not like that line. Though I'm an American, I like the song too, even the second verse.
Youtube link? You’ve piqued my curiosity. Dr. Who rocks! :^)
I don’t know if it is or not. Personally, I think the new flag looks more like an advertising gimmick than a symbol of our heritage.
Hmmm, with the two flags together for comparison, I must say that I favour the former ol’ Red Ensign.
I’m OK with the flag. It’s been the only national flag I’ve known my whole life, and I’m pushing 50 (was born in the Centennial year, actually). And it’s recognizable and not easily confused with other flags, unlike all those European tri-color flags that I can never keep track of (red-white-blue? Blue-white-red?) It’s probably good that they didn’t put in elements that directly referred to our two main founding cultures (British and French) or other specifics, because I’m sure the multi-culti types would be all up in arms that their contribution to Canada’s culture weren’t included in the flag.
Give me the flag that our men died under during WWII, the red ensign. I think the Pearson liberal flag is a rag.
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