National Flag of Canada

A symbol of Canadian identity

The official ceremony inaugurating the new Canadian flag was held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on February 15, 1965, with Governor General Georges Vanier, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, the members of the Cabinet and thousands of Canadians in attendance.

The Canadian Red Ensign, bearing the Union Jack and the shield of the royal arms of Canada, was lowered and then, on the stroke of noon, our new maple leaf flag was raised. TThe crowd sang the national anthem O Canada followed by the royal anthem God Save the Queen.

The following words, spoken on that momentous day by the Honourable Maurice Bourget, Speaker of the Senate, added further symbolic meaning to our flag: „The flag is the symbol of the nation’s unity, for it, beyond any doubt, represents all the citizens of Canada without distinction of race, language, belief or opinion.“

Well before the coming of the first European settlers, Canada’s aboriginal peoples had ddiscovered the food properties of maple sap, which they gathered every spring. According to many historians, the maple leaf began to serve as a Canadian symbol as early as 1700.

In 1834, the first St. Jean Baptiste Society in North AAmerica made the maple leaf its emblem.

In 1836, Le Canadien, a newspaper published in Lower Canada, referred to it as a suitable emblem for Canada.

In 1848, the Toronto literary annual The Maple Leaf referred to it as the chosen emblem of Canada. By 1860, the maple leaf was incorporated into the badge of the 100th Regiment (Royal Canadians) and was used extensively in decorations for the visit of the Prince of Wales that year.

Alexander Muir wrote The Maple Leaf Forever as Canada’s confederation song in 1867; it was regarded as the national song for several decades. The coats of arms created the next year for Ontario and Quebec both included the maple leaf.

The maple leaf today appears on the ppenny. However, between 1876 and 1901, it appeared on all Canadian coins. The modern one-cent piece has two maple leaves on a common twig, a design that has gone almost unchanged since 1937.

During the First World War, the maple leaf was included in the badge of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Since 1921, the Royal Arms of Canada have included three maple leaves as a distinctive Canadian emblem. With the proclamation of Canada’s new flag in 1965, the maple leaf has bbecome the most-prominent Canadian symbol.

In 1939, at the time of World War II, many Canadian troops used the maple leaf as a distinctive sign, displaying it on regimental badges and Canadian army and naval equipment.

In 1957, the colour of the maple leaves on the arms of Canada was changed from green to red, one of Canada’s official colours.

On February 15, 1965, the red maple leaf flag was inaugurated as the National Flag of Canada.

The Sovereign and members of the Royal Family

The Sovereign and members of the Royal Family are entitled to display personal flags and standards which are normally flown to denote their presence. These flags and standards are flown day and night at any building in which they are in residence or in which they are attending a public function.

Generally, personal flags and standards are flown behind the saluting base when troops are inspected and on Her Majesty’s ships when they are aboard.

Normally, personal flags and standards are broken from the flag pole as members of the Royal Family step on the saluting base or enter the building and are lowered as they leave. The saluting base flag pole must therefore be rigged with halyards.

Her Majesty’s PPersonal Canadian flag and standards of members of the Royal Family will take precedence before the national flag; they are never half-masted.

These flags and standards, like all personal flags, are never used by others.

Although Her Majesty The Queen has several standards and personal flags which are displayed according to the event and the location, in Canada, only The Queen’s Personal Canadian flag will be displayed to mark her presence (as illustrated above).

Royal flags and standards are normally provided by the Household Staff and are lent to the Department of Canadian Heritage Visit Staff prior to the visit; The Queen’s Personal Canadian flag is obtained from Rideau Hall.

If more than one member of the Royal Family is present on an official visit, only the standard of the member taking precedence shall be flown.

Flags and standards of foreign heads of state may be flown as the occasion demands but normally only the foreign national flag is flown in connection with a Head of State visit. The foreign national flag will take precedence after the national flag.

The Governor General’s flag

The Governor General’s flag (as illustrated above) has precedence over all flags in Canada except The Queen’s Personal CCanadian flag and the flag of the Lieutenant Governor of a Province at the Lieutenant Governor’s residence or on occasion when the Lieutenant Governor is performing his duties as The Queen’s representative in the Province. The same provisions specified for the Sovereign’s flag and other personal standards apply to the Governor General’s flag.

The Lieutenant Governors’ flags

The flags of the lieutenant governors of provinces within the province of their jurisdiction are treated in a manner similar to the Governor General’s flag and take precedence over all flags except The Queen’s Personal Canadian flag (as illustrated below).

Population

Canada is the second largest country in the world in terms of land area (9 012 112.20 square kilometres), yet it ranks only 33rd in terms of population. According to Statistics Canada, Canada’s population in 2000 was estimated to be 30 750 100. This represents a growth of 3.6% since the 1996 estimate of 29 671 900. Almost all of Canada’s population is concentrated in a narrow band along the country’s southern edge. The population is also concentrated by province: Ontario and Quebec contain between them 62% of the total population.

Sostinė: Otava

Plotas: 9984670 km2

Population: 32.51 mln.

Kalbos: Anglų 59.3%, Prancūzų 23.2%

Valiuta: Kanados

doleris (CAD)

Telefono kodas + 1-xxx

Aukščiausias taškas: Kogano kalnas 5,959 m

Etninė sudėtis: Britų kilmės 28%, Prancūzų kilmės 23%, kitų Europi

Religion: Katalikai 46%, Protestantai 36%

Santvarka: Konfederacija su parlamentine demokratija

Artimiausios Lietuvos ambasados adresas:

130 Albert Str., Suite 204,

Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4

CANADA

Tel.: (1 613) 567 54 58

Fax.: (1 613) 567 53 15

E-mail: [email protected]

The National Flag of Canada

A symbol of Canadian identity

The official ceremony inaugurating the new Canadian flag was held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on February 15, 1965, with GGovernor General Georges Vanier, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, the members of the Cabinet and thousands of Canadians in attendance.

The Canadian Red Ensign, bearing the Union Jack and the shield of the royal arms of Canada, was lowered and then, on the stroke of noon, our new maple leaf flag was raised. The crowd sang the national anthem O Canada followed by the royal anthem God Save the Queen.

The following words, spoken on that momentous day by the Honourable Maurice BBourget, Speaker of the Senate, added further symbolic meaning to our flag: „The flag is the symbol of the nation’s unity, for it, beyond any doubt, represents all the citizens of Canada without distinction of race, language, belief or opinion.“

Well bbefore the coming of the first European settlers, Canada’s aboriginal peoples had discovered the food properties of maple sap, which they gathered every spring. According to many historians, the maple leaf began to serve as a Canadian symbol as early as 1700.

In 1834, the first St. Jean Baptiste Society in North America made the maple leaf its emblem.

In 1836, Le Canadien, a newspaper published in Lower Canada, referred to it as a suitable emblem for Canada.

In 1848, the Toronto literary annual The Maple Leaf referred to it as the chosen emblem of Canada. By 1860, the maple leaf was incorporated into the badge of the 100th Regiment (Royal Canadians) and was used extensively in decorations for the visit oof the Prince of Wales that year.

Alexander Muir wrote The Maple Leaf Forever as Canada’s confederation song in 1867; it was regarded as the national song for several decades. The coats of arms created the next year for Ontario and Quebec both included the maple leaf.

The maple leaf today appears on the penny. However, between 1876 and 1901, it appeared on all Canadian coins. The modern one-cent piece has two maple leaves on a common twig, a design that has ggone almost unchanged since 1937.

During the First World War, the maple leaf was included in the badge of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Since 1921, the Royal Arms of Canada have included three maple leaves as a distinctive Canadian emblem. With the proclamation of Canada’s new flag in 1965, the maple leaf has become the most-prominent Canadian symbol.

In 1939, at the time of World War II, many Canadian troops used the maple leaf as a distinctive sign, displaying it on regimental badges and Canadian army and naval equipment.

In 1957, the colour of the maple leaves on the arms of Canada was changed from green to red, one of Canada’s official colours.

On February 15, 1965, the red maple leaf flag was inaugurated as the National Flag of Canada.

The Sovereign and members of the Royal Family

The Sovereign and members of the Royal Family are entitled to display personal flags and standards which are normally flown to denote their presence. These flags and standards are flown day and night at any building in which they are in residence or in which they are attending a public function.

Generally, personal flags and standards are flown behind the saluting base when troops are inspected and on HHer Majesty’s ships when they are aboard.

Normally, personal flags and standards are broken from the flag pole as members of the Royal Family step on the saluting base or enter the building and are lowered as they leave. The saluting base flag pole must therefore be rigged with halyards.

Her Majesty’s Personal Canadian flag and standards of members of the Royal Family will take precedence before the national flag; they are never half-masted.

These flags and standards, like all personal flags, are never used by others.

Although Her Majesty The Queen has several standards and personal flags which are displayed according to the event and the location, in Canada, only The Queen’s Personal Canadian flag will be displayed to mark her presence (as illustrated above).

Royal flags and standards are normally provided by the Household Staff and are lent to the Department of Canadian Heritage Visit Staff prior to the visit; The Queen’s Personal Canadian flag is obtained from Rideau Hall.

If more than one member of the Royal Family is present on an official visit, only the standard of the member taking precedence shall be flown.

Flags and standards of foreign heads of state may be flown as the ooccasion demands but normally only the foreign national flag is flown in connection with a Head of State visit. The foreign national flag will take precedence after the national flag.

The Governor General’s flag

The Governor General’s flag (as illustrated above) has precedence over all flags in Canada except The Queen’s Personal Canadian flag and the flag of the Lieutenant Governor of a Province at the Lieutenant Governor’s residence or on occasion when the Lieutenant Governor is performing his duties as The Queen’s representative in the Province. The same provisions specified for the Sovereign’s flag and other personal standards apply to the Governor General’s flag.

The Lieutenant Governors’ flags

The flags of the lieutenant governors of provinces within the province of their jurisdiction are treated in a manner similar to the Governor General’s flag and take precedence over all flags except The Queen’s Personal Canadian flag (as illustrated below).

Population

Canada is the second largest country in the world in terms of land area (9 012 112.20 square kilometres), yet it ranks only 33rd in terms of population. According to Statistics Canada, Canada’s population in 2000 was estimated to be 30 750 100. This represents a growth of 3.6% since

the 1996 estimate of 29 671 900. Almost all of Canada’s population is concentrated in a narrow band along the country’s southern edge. The population is also concentrated by province: Ontario and Quebec contain between them 62% of the total population.

Sostinė: Otava

Plotas: 9984670 km2

Population: 32.51 mln.

Kalbos: Anglų 59.3%, Prancūzų 23.2%

Valiuta: Kanados doleris (CAD)

Telefono kodas + 1-xxx

Aukščiausias taškas: Kogano kalnas 5,959 m

Etninė sudėtis: Britų kilmės 28%, Prancūzų kilmės 23%, kitų Europi

Religion: Katalikai 46%, Protestantai 36%

Santvarka: Konfederacija su parlamentine demokratija

Artimiausios LLietuvos ambasados adresas:

130 Albert Str., Suite 204,

Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4

CANADA

Tel.: (1 613) 567 54 58

Fax.: (1 613) 567 53 15

E-mail: [email protected]