Canada’s red-white-red flag was first raised in 1965, its pattern drawn from the flag of the Royal Military College in Kingston. Red and white have been the national colours since 1921. The maple leaf, Canada’s best-known symbol, was adopted by French-Canadians in the 1700s, and the fleur-de-lys recalls French royalty and New France.
IdentityWhat Canadian symbols are
Objects, events and people that carry special meaning serve as Canada's many important symbols, and together they help explain what being Canadian means. Among the most recognizable are the Mace of the House of Commons, the Canadian flag of 1965, the Royal Arms of Canada, and the Snowbirds (431 Air Demonstration Squadron).
Flags & the maple leafThe flag, the maple leaf, and the fleur-de-lys
The first raising of a new Canadian flag came in 1965. Its red-white-red pattern is drawn from the flag of the Royal Military College, Kingston, which was founded in 1876. Since the Middle Ages red and white had been the colours of France and England; they have been Canada's national colours since 1921.
The Union Jack is Canada's official Royal Flag. Before 1965 the Canadian Red Ensign served as the flag for about 100 years, and it has been carried officially by veterans since 2005. The provinces and territories also have their own flags embodying their distinct traditions.
The maple leaf is Canada's best-known symbol. It was adopted by French-Canadians in the 1700s, has appeared on Canadian uniforms and insignia since the 1850s, and is carved into the headstones of fallen soldiers buried overseas and in Canada.
The lily flower, or fleur-de-lys, is said to have been adopted by the French king in the year 496. For more than 1,000 years it stood as the symbol of French royalty, the colony of New France included. Confederation revived it, and it went into the Canadian Red Ensign; Quebec adopted a flag of its own in 1948, bearing the Cross and the fleur-de-lys.
Heraldry & architectureCoat of arms, motto, and Parliament
Canada adopted an official coat of arms and a national motto after the First World War, as an expression of national pride. The motto, A Mari Usque Ad Mare, is Latin for 'from sea to sea.' Symbols of England, France, Scotland and Ireland appear in the arms, along with red maple leaves, and can be seen on dollar bills, government documents and public buildings.
The Parliament Buildings, completed in the 1860s, embody French, English and Aboriginal traditions in the Gothic Revival style popular under Queen Victoria. An accidental fire destroyed the Centre Block in 1916; it was rebuilt by 1922, and only the Library survives from the original. Completed in 1927 in memory of the First World War, the Peace Tower holds a Memorial Chamber with the Books of Remembrance naming those who died serving Canada.
Built in the French Second Empire style, the Quebec National Assembly stands apart from the other provincial legislatures, which are Baroque, Romanesque and neoclassical, reflecting the Greco-Roman heritage of Western civilization in which democracy originated.
Test questions on this topic
In what year was a new Canadian flag raised for the first time?
Why: Canada's new flag flew for the first time in 1965. Its red-white-red arrangement is taken from the flag of the Royal Military College at Kingston, founded in 1876.
The red-white-red pattern of the Canadian flag comes from the flag of which institution?
Why: Canada's new flag flew for the first time in 1965. Its red-white-red arrangement is taken from the flag of the Royal Military College at Kingston, founded in 1876.
Red and white have been the national colours of Canada since which year?
Why: Red and white have been the colours of France and England since medieval times, and Canada's national colours since 1921.
Which flag is Canada's official Royal Flag?
Why: Our official Royal Flag is the Union Jack. For roughly a century the Canadian Red Ensign did duty as Canada's flag.
For about how long did the Canadian Red Ensign serve as the Canadian flag?
Why: For roughly a century the Canadian Red Ensign did duty as Canada's flag. Provinces and territories fly flags of their own that carry their particular traditions.
What is Canada's best-known symbol?
Why: No symbol is better known than the maple leaf. French Canadians took it up in the 1700s, it has been on Canadian uniforms and insignia since the 1850s, and it is cut into the headstones of Canada's war dead at home and overseas.
Maple leaves were adopted as a symbol by French-Canadians in which century?
Why: No symbol is better known than the maple leaf. French Canadians took it up in the 1700s, it has been on Canadian uniforms and insignia since the 1850s, and it is cut into the headstones of Canada's war dead at home and overseas.
Maple leaves have appeared on Canadian uniforms and insignia only since the 1950s.
Why: No symbol is better known than the maple leaf. French Canadians took it up in the 1700s, it has been on Canadian uniforms and insignia since the 1850s, and it is cut into the headstones of Canada's war dead at home and overseas.
According to legend, in what year was the lily flower (fleur-de-lys) adopted by the French king?
Why: The lily flower — the "fleur-de-lys" — is said to have been taken up by the French king in 496, and it stood for French royalty for over a thousand years, New France included.
Quebec adopted a flag of its own, bearing the Cross and the fleur-de-lys, in what year?
Why: Confederation revived the fleur-de-lys, which went into the Canadian Red Ensign. Quebec adopted a flag of its own in 1948, built on the Cross and the fleur-de-lys.
What does Canada's national motto, A Mari Usque Ad Mare, mean in English?
Why: National pride after the First World War gave Canada an official coat of arms, and with it the motto A Mari Usque Ad Mare — in Latin, "from sea to sea."
Canada adopted an official coat of arms and a national motto as an expression of national pride after which event?
Why: National pride after the First World War gave Canada an official coat of arms, and with it the motto A Mari Usque Ad Mare — in Latin, "from sea to sea."
The Canadian coat of arms contains symbols of England, France, Scotland and Wales as well as red maple leaves.
Why: England, France, Scotland and Ireland are all represented on the arms, along with red maple leaves. They appear today on dollar bills, on government documents and on public buildings.
In what decade were the Parliament Buildings completed?
Why: Construction finished in the 1860s. Fire destroyed the Centre Block by accident in 1916, and it was rebuilt by 1922.
What happened to the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings in 1916?
Why: Fire destroyed the Centre Block by accident in 1916 and it was rebuilt by 1922. Only the Library survives from the original building.
Which part of the original Parliament Buildings is the only part remaining?
Why: Fire destroyed the Centre Block by accident in 1916 and it was rebuilt by 1922; only the Library survives from the original building. The Peace Tower, finished in 1927, commemorates the First World War.
The Peace Tower was completed in 1927 in memory of which event?
Why: The Peace Tower, finished in 1927, commemorates the First World War. Inside it the Memorial Chamber holds the Books of Remembrance, which record every soldier, sailor and airman who died in Canada's service in war or on duty.
What do the Books of Remembrance in the Memorial Chamber contain?
Why: Inside the Tower the Memorial Chamber holds the Books of Remembrance, recording every soldier, sailor and airman who died in Canada's service in war or on duty.
In what architectural style is the Quebec National Assembly built?
Why: Quebec's National Assembly is built in French Second Empire style; other provincial legislatures are Baroque, Romanesque and neoclassical, echoing the Greco-Roman inheritance of Western civilization, where democracy began.
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