Subject(s): Canadian History, Canadian Politics, Canadian Social Studies, History, Social Studies
Grade Level: 6 - 8, 9 - 12, Post Secondary

Powerful, identifiable, and unifying: Canada's maple leaf flag is worn and flown by Canadians around the world, serving as a statement of pride and patriotism. From celebrations on Parliament Hill to conversations with historians, W5’s Kevin Newman investigates the rich history of the maple leaf flag showing how the now iconic flag unified the country and saved a nation.

In 1964, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson proposed replacing the Canadian Red Ensign, which featured a British Union Jack, with a new, distinctly Canadian flag. The goal: a clear symbol of Canada’s independence from England and a flag that could be held up by all Canadians, no matter what their heritage. Pearson’s favoured design, the “Pearson Pennant,” was derided by the Progressive Conservatives, led by John Diefenbaker. After months of bitter debate, a parliamentary committee was formed to meet in secret and recommend a new flag. W5 offers viewers a never-before-seen glimpse at some of the thousands of designs that were considered, and reviews secret diaries and correspondence from the committee that have now been declassified after decades on the shelf.

The eventual choice was the maple leaf design that flies across Canada today – one that Canadians fly with pride, wave when Canada’s athletes win, and with which Canada’s fallen warriors are draped. But just who created the single maple leaf design, when it was first created, and who on the parliamentary committee knew about it before the debates even began was never revealed… until now.

Running Time: 28:10 Country of Origin: Canada Captions:

Producer: CTV Copyright Date: 2014 Language: English

1. The People's Choice: W5  30:00
   Powerful, identifiable, and unifying: Canada's maple leaf flag...
   Powerful, identifiable, and unifying: Canada's maple leaf flag is worn and flown by Canadians around the world, serving as a statement of pride and patriotism. From celebrations on Parliament Hill to conversations with historians, W5's Kevin Newman investigates the rich history of the maple leaf flag showing how the now iconic flag unified the country and saved a nation. In 1964, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson proposed replacing the Canadian Red Ensign, which featured a British Union Jack, with a new, distinctly Canadian flag. The goal: a clear symbol of Canada's independence from England and a flag that could be held up by all Canadians, no matter what their heritage. Pearson's favoured design, the "Pearson Pennant", was derided by the Progressive Conservatives, led by John Diefenbaker. After months of bitter debate, a parliamentary committee was formed to meet in secret and recommend a new flag. W5 offers viewers a never-before-seen glimpse at some of the thousands of designs that were considered, and reviews secret diaries and correspondence from the committee that have now been declassified after decades on the shelf.
2. The History of the Canadian Flag  8:29
   The maple leaf flag means a lot to many Canadians, but what ever...
   The maple leaf flag means a lot to many Canadians, but what ever happened to our original flag, the Red Ensign? Kevin Newman takes a look back at the divisive and bitter debate over changing our national flag from the Red Ensign.