Canada Flag

How to identify it

A red-white-red vertical triband where the central white square is twice the width of each red band, carrying a single red maple leaf with eleven points.

Design and construction

Proportions

1:2

Adoption and legal status

15 February 1965

Construction

The flag is divided in a 1:2:1 pattern. The broad central band is known as a Canadian pale.

Officially documented meaning

Red and white were fixed as Canada's national colours by royal proclamation in 1921.

Commonly repeated interpretation

Not official: The eleven points of the leaf are often said to represent provinces or territories. They do not: the count came out of design and legibility tests, and Canada has thirteen provinces and territories.

History of the design

Canada used the Union Flag and the Canadian Red Ensign before 1965. A parliamentary committee reviewed thousands of submissions during the 1964 "flag debate" and settled on the single-leaf design, which was proclaimed in February 1965.

Sources