[Fiji Hill]

The Maple Leaf Forever is a song written by Alexander Muir in 1867 and has been used as a national anthem by English-speaking--but most certainly not French-speaking--Canadians. This version omits the second verse, perhaps because Americans might find it offensive:

At Queenston Heights and Lundy’s Lane
Our brave fathers side by side
For freedom’s right and loved ones dear
Firmly stood and nobly died. And those dear rights which they maintained
We swear to yield them never.
Our watchword evermore shall be
The Maple Leaf forever.

[Verginius Rufus]

So the maple leaf stands for resistance to American imperialism? No wonder they wanted it on their flag.

A lot of the early English-speaking Canadians were United Empire Loyalists who left the United States when we won our independence, but by 1812 a lot of the English-speaking Canadians were descended from Americans who had moved there just to get land. Jefferson thought the conquest of Canada would be simply a matter of marching, but the War of 1812 may have been the decisive event that made Canadians determined never to join the US.

I remember when the all-red Canadian flag was adopted--my mother saw it as Communist-inspired.

[Dartman]

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 !!