YES! FINALLY!
We arrived this week in Victoria BC mid week (let's say CANADA DAY!). This has been a fast trip as everyone is putting in lots of KMs for the pilgrimage. We are on our way NORTH this week toward the Yukon as we work our way East.
Since this week we celebrated Canada Day, Pam Harrison had this note to us:
During the time of Prime Minister Lester Pearson it was very clear that Canada would have a new flag, it would be established to fly during the celebrate year of Canada’s 100th birthday. On Feb 15, 1965 for the first time the beautiful “Canada Flag” flew on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The flag has two red boarders marking the two oceans on either side of our nation. The centre is a white square with four equal side based on equality for all and the red maple leaf had 13 points to note the 10 Provence’s and 3 territories. This has changed to 11 points for design benefits. ( easier to print ).
The flag was designed by Dr George Stanley, Sackville, NB. The town commissioned an sculpture to design a statue of Dr Stanley sitting on a park bench, you can join him for a historic picture (see above)!
The Stanley’s shared the story of the strong emotions around the new flag. You see Canadian soldiers had fought two world wars under the Union Jack and they loved that flag. On the week before the flag raising the Stanley’s received death threats and hate mail. The flag raising occurred without violence however several Legion refused to fly the new Canada Flag for many years.
In 1967, Canada celebrated its 100th birthday and Canada flags were everywhere, people wore flag pins and clothing, the maple leaf was on our money and the Maple Leaf became our international icon. So now check the flag and enjoy knowing ,as we walked past Sackville ,we could have set with Dr George Stanley. The statue is located next to the Post Office, (Atlantic bubble) but be sure to wear your mask.
