Happy National FLAG day! Every event we go to, the Canadian flag is always near. The Royal Union Flag, which is also the flag of the United Kingdom, was used as the official flag of Canada until 1965. Various designs of the Canadian Red Ensign were used between 1868 and 1965 but Canada’s Parliament never officially adopted them. The National Flag of Canada’s current design results from a period of discussion, debate and political maneuvering in the early 1960s. Many people were involved in the the design. However, Lord Stanley is often miscredited as the sole designer. While Stanley had a small part, John Ross Matheson is the person most responsible for the flag being what it is today. The multi-party parliamentary committee formed to select a new flag unanimously chose the design on October 29, 1964. The House of Commons passed the design on December 15, 1964. Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed the new flag on January 28, 1965, and it was inaugurated on February 15 in the same year. #traditionhonourpride #edmontonfirefighters #edmontonfirerescue #edmontonfirefightershonourguard #nationalflagdayofcanada