The 1964 Great Flag Debate was the longest uninterrupted debate in Canadian parliamentary history. The switch from the Red Ensign to the Maple Leaf divided the country — and polling shows many Canadians still prefer the old flag.
The Canadian Red Ensign served as Canada’s de facto national flag for nearly a century. From Confederation through two World Wars, this is the complete story of the flag that built a nation.
The Canadian Red Ensign changed multiple times between 1868 and 1965 as new provinces joined and Canadian heraldry evolved. Here is every version, from the four-province original to the final 1957 red maple leaf design.