Lesson 1 of 4 · 4 min read
The red-and-white maple leaf flag was first raised in 1965, replacing the Red Ensign. Its colours, its pattern and the maple leaf itself each have a longer history.
Canada's flag, a red maple leaf on a white square between two red bars, was raised for the first time in 1965.
Each year on February 15, the anniversary of the flag's first raising, Canadians mark National Flag of Canada Day.
The maple leaf is Canada's best-known symbol. French Canadians adopted maple leaves as a symbol in the 1700s. They have appeared on Canadian uniforms and insignia since the 1850s, and are carved into the headstones of Canada's fallen soldiers buried overseas and at home.
Key facts
The current Canadian flag was raised for the first time in 1965.
Its red-white-red pattern comes from the flag of the Royal Military College in Kingston, founded in 1876.
Red and white have been colours of France and England since the Middle Ages, and Canada's national colours since 1921.
The Canadian Red Ensign served as the Canadian flag for about 100 years. The Union Jack is Canada's official Royal Flag.
The maple leaf is Canada's best-known symbol. French Canadians adopted it in the 1700s, and it has appeared on Canadian uniforms since the 1850s.
Discover Canada — Canadian Symbols — Other Royal and National SymbolsAnswer all 3 to mark this lesson done.
1. When was the current Canadian flag first raised?
2. Where does the red-white-red pattern of the flag come from?
3. Which flag served as Canada's flag for about 100 years before 1965?
HomelandCanada