Canada Flag Day: The Canadian Flag Design and its Intriguing Connection to Hockey History

At hockeyhistory.org we are interested in hockey as it relates to our cultural heritage.  Canadians celebrate the Canadian flag each year on February 15 – known as Flag Day. Hockey history may have had an integral part in the creation and design of the unique Canadian flag in 1965.

Two of the principle architects of the Canadian flag and the controversial drive for Canada to adopt its own flag share an intriguing connection to hockey history.  Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson and George Stanley both went to the University at Oxford, England as Rhodes Scholars and played hockey for the Oxford Canadians.  The Oxford Canadians are regarded as the first "Team Canada".  The Oxford Canadians were the first team to represent Canada wearing the famous red maple leaf on white.  Pearson and Stanley may have proudly worn the red on white maple leaf  on their jerseys in the international arena. They would have definitely known of the maple leaf tradition with the team.

They were both  key players in orchestrating a Canadian flag and both had a direct attachment to the red on white maple leaf as a symbol of Canada. In 1964, it was Prime Minister Pearson who sought to resolve the great flag debate. He launched a drive to find a suitable design through the establishment of a commission.  There were a number of contributions but the victorious design came from none other than fellow Oxford Canadian- George Stanley, and not surprising, it was the red maple leaf on white. Stanley, in his famous flag memorandum wrote: It has been used by Canadian troops in two world wars, and by Canadian Olympic teams (including the colours red and white).  It appears to have universal acceptance both in and outside Canada as a distinctive Canadian emblem. To read all of Stanley's rationale for the maple leaf click on: Flag Memorandum

There are striking similarities between the Canadian flag, the 1910  Oxford Canadians jerseys and 100 years later, the 2010 Team Canada Olympic jerseys. Now maybe, we know why!

2010 Team Canada Jersey: Striking Similarity to
the Oxford Canadians and the Candian Flag

Other related Hockeyhistory.org posts:

Mike " Herr Zigzag" Pearson: Lester B. Pearson's Passion for Hockey

Oxford Canadians: The First Hockey Team to Represent Canada by Wearing a Red Maple Leaf

Reference:

Michael Talbots, The First team Canada: The Oxford Canadians 2010 in Pucklore: The Hockey Research Anthology Volume I, Society for International Hockey Research:   Compiled by James Milks