Why was the maple leaf chosen as the official symbol on Canada’s national flag? Some may question why the maple leaf was eventually chosen as the symbol used on Canada’s flag, particularly given that the sugar maple, used as the model for the maple leaf design on Canada’s national flag, is found only in eastern Canada. Further to this, the majority of Canada’s maple trees are, in fact, only found east of Manitoba. By contrast, the beaver, a symbol of industriousness, and responsible for Canada’s burgeoning fur trade in the 1800s, is found widely across the country. In 1849, when famous Canadian engineer Sandford Fleming was asked to design Canada’s first adhesive postage stamp, he chose to portray a beaver building a dam near a waterfall. There are several reasons why the maple leaf was a more appropriate choice. For one thing, the maple leaf is simply easier to draw. For another, the maple leaf is red, one of Canada’s national colours (the other is white). Finally, the fur trade is a part of Canada’s historical past, and the image of the beaver no longer resonated with Canadians in the same manner that it would have in the nineteenth century. Further to these arguments, historically speaking, the image of the maple leaf has frequently been used as a symbol of Canada. To cite a few examples: • In 1860, the design of the badge for the Prince of Wales Royal Canadian Regiment included a maple leaf. Also in 1860, the maple leaf featured prominently in decorations for a visit by the Prince of Wales. • In 1867, Alexander Muir penned “The Maple Leaf Forever” as a song for Confederation. • Between 1876 and 1901, the maple leaf was featured on all Canadian coins; today, the maple leaf is found on the penny). • Between 1899 and 1902, Canadian soldiers fighting in the Boer War (a conflict in South Africa between the British and descendents of South Africa’s Dutch settlers) wore a maple leaf on their helmets. • In 1904, Canadian athletes competing in the Olympic Games wore shirts displaying the maple leaf. • In World Wars I and II, the maple leaf was displayed on soldiers’ caps, badges, and military equipment. • In 1921, the Canadian shield was revised so that the provincial emblems were replaced with a maple leaf. • In 1980, for his ‘Marathon of Hope’ run across Canada, Terry Fox wore a white T-shirt with the maple leaf embedded on a map of Canada. • Throughout the 20th century, Canadian teams wore the maple leaf on their uniforms in international competitions. Today, around the world, the maple leaf is inextricably linked with Canada.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Jul 2013 05:20:33 +0000