What our flag could have looked like

[a_majoor]

An article with lots of pictures (more than can be posted: follow link) of some of the multitude of official entries for tha national flag. While many of us may know the story, we might not have seen some of the designs that did not makr the cut. I rather like the evocative "Northern Lights" flag design (number 6), and special mention to Jennifer Robinson, age 6 at the time of the contest, who's design now resides in the National Archives (number 11).

http://mentalfloss.com/article/50022/11-rejected-canadian-flag-designs

11 Rejected Canadian Flag Designs 

Something to think about we we change over to the new combats with those god awful giant Canadian flags on each shoulder: what othr possibilities were there?

Here's a fun fact: Canada didn't have an official national flag until February 15, 1965. A not-so-fun fact: choosing one caused a huge divide in both public and political opinions, and the matter had to be settled by cloture in the Canadian House of Commons.

Until the red and white "Maple Leaf flag" we all know was adopted, Canada used the Canadian Red Ensign, which features a Union Flag and the Coat of Arms of Canada. But most Canadians weren't happy flying the Red Ensign. A poll in 1958 showed that 80% of the people wanted a distinct Canadian flag, and 60% of those would like that flag to bear a maple leaf. By the time Lester B. Pearson was elected Prime Minister in 1963, the "flag problem" was big enough to become a party platform. Pearson promised a new flag within two years.

Since pretty much everyone agreed that the flag should have a maple leaf somewhere, that part wasn't really a problem. The debate was really over whether or not Canada should ditch the Union Flag in its new design, thereby minimizing ties to the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries like Australia. The debate went on for months, and even after Pearson forced Parliament to stay in session over the summer, an agreement couldn't be reached. A special flag committee was called; they would have 6 weeks to find a new design.

The committee dusted off the suggestion box and invited ordinary citizens to submit their vision of a brand new flag. Of the total 3541 submissions, 2136 bore maple leaves, 408 the Union Jack, 389 had a beaver, and 359 contained fleurs-de-lys. (Some managed to work in all four.) In the end, a simple red maple leaf design by Colonel George F. G. Stanley would win... but not before beating out some tough competitors.

Read the full text here: http://mentalfloss.com/article/50022/11-rejected-canadian-flag-designs#ixzz2aenTxOP8
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