The Flag of Ontario: Keeping the Red Ensign Alive

A Provincial Flag Born of National Controversy

Ontario’s flag was adopted on May 21, 1965 — just three months after the Canadian Red Ensign was lowered from Parliament Hill for the last time. This was no coincidence. Premier John Robarts introduced the Ontarian flag specifically to preserve the Red Ensign format at the provincial level after it was lost at the federal one.

Design and Symbolism

The flag features a red field with the Union Jack in the upper-left canton and the shield of Ontario on the fly — a direct echo of the Canadian Red Ensign. The shield displays the Cross of St. George (red cross on white) above three golden maple leaves on a green background. The design was enshrined in the Flag Act of 1965.

Controversy and Sentiment

The adoption was not without debate. Some argued that Ontario should choose a more distinctive design, while others saw the Red Ensign format as a vital link to the province’s loyalist heritage. The Ontario Legislature ultimately voted overwhelmingly in favour, motivated in large part by resentment at the federal government’s decision to discard the Red Ensign.

Today, Ontario’s flag remains one of the most recognizable provincial flags in Canada and serves as a living link to the country’s pre-1965 flag tradition. It is the most direct descendant of the Canadian Red Ensign still flying on official flagpoles.