A patriotic display in Toronto, ON, marks Flag Day.

Flag Day is celebrated on February 15 in Canada, commemorating the adoption of the Maple Leaf flag on that date in 1965. The day is marked by flying the flag, occasional public ceremonies (especially in 2005, its 40th anniversary), and educational programs in schools. ... February 15 is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The banner replaced the Red Ensign which had been in use, if not officially, in one form or another since 1868. The new distinctive Canadian Flag first flew on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, on Feb. 15, 1965. The Canadian Red Ensign, this design was used from 1957 until 1965. ... 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... The National Flag of Canada, popularly known as the Maple Leaf and lUnifolié (French for the one-leaved), is a base red flag with a white square in its centre featuring a stylized, 11-pointed, red maple leaf. ... Centre Block, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada Parliament Hill, (French Colline du Parlement), -The Hill for locals- is a scenic location on the banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Canada. ... Motto: Advance Ottawa/Ottawa en avant Location of the City of Ottawa in the Province of Ontario Coordinates: Country Canada Province Ontario Established 1850 as Town of Bytown Incorporated 1855 as City of Ottawa Amalgamated January 1, 2001  - Mayor Larry OBrien  - City Council Ottawa City Council  - Representatives 8 MPs... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Official languages English (de facto) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Parliamentary representation  - House seats  - Senate seats 106 24 Area Total  - Land  - Water  (% of total)  Ranked 4th 1,076...

Flag Day was instituted in 1996 by an Order-in-Council from Governor General Roméo LeBlanc, on the advice of the Cabinet of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, and is officially called "National Flag of Canada Day". Outside of the federal government, however, this title is little used. The official name could be interpreted as suggesting there is a national flag for Canada Day, July 1st. The somewhat awkward official name, with insertion of the qualifying words "of Canada", likely stems from the problem of using the word "national" in Canada, where it is invoked by various groups such as aboriginal peoples, called First Nations, and by the province of Quebec, which uses it to refer to itself (e.g., National Assembly of Quebec). At the official level, it was decided "National Flag Day" would not fly. Despite this, "National Flag Day", and especially "Flag Day", are commonly used. An Order-in-Council is an executive order issued in Commonwealth Realms operating under the Westminster system. ... The Governor General of Canada (French: Gouverneure générale du Canada or Gouverneur général du Canada) is the representative of the Canadian Monarch. ... The Right Honourable Roméo-Adrien LeBlanc, PC, CC, ONB, CMM, CD (born December 18, 1927 in Memramcook, New Brunswick) is a former Governor General of Canada. ... A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ... The Prime Minister of Canada (French: Premier ministre du Canada), is the head of the Government of Canada. ... Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien, usually known as Jean Chrétien, PC, QC, BA, LLL, LLD (born January 11, 1934), served as the twentieth Prime Minister of Canada from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003. ... Canada Day (French: Fête du Canada) is Canadas national holiday. ... Aboriginal peoples in Canada are Indigenous Peoples recognized in the Canadian Constitution Act, 1982, sections 25 and 35, respectively, as Indians (First Nations), Métis, and Inuit. ... First Nations is a term of ethnicity used in Canada. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Quebec Parliament Building at night The National Assembly of Quebec (French: Assemblée nationale du Québec) is the name for the legislative body of the province of Quebec, Canada which was defined in the Canadian constitution as the Legislative Assembly of Quebec (lassemblée législative de...

At the very first Flag Day ceremony in Hull, Quebec, Chrétien's speech was drowned out by a group of demonstrators upset by proposed cuts in the unemployment insurance legislation. Chrétien left the stage and while walking through the crowd he encountered Bill Clennett, one of the demonstrators who was shouting, "Chrétien, au chômage" ("Make Chrétien unemployed"). Chrétien grabbed Clennett by the neck and pushed him aside. Chrétien was criticized for this incident, which came to be dubbed the "Shawinigan Handshake", after Chrétien's town of birth Shawinigan, Quebec. Hull, Québec, as seen from Ottawa Hull is part of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. ... The Shawinigan Handshake is the nickname of a chokehold executed by Jean Chretien, who was Prime Minister of Canada at the time, on protester Bill Clennett after Clennett broke through the RCMP barricade during a protest on February 15, 1996. ... Shawinigan is a city in the Province of Quebec, Canada on the Saint-Maurice River. ...

When hung vertically against a wall, the Maple Leaf should point left.

Numerous Canadians feel that Flag Day should be declared a national statutory holiday, as there is a long period early in the year (between New Year's Day and Good Friday) without any holidays (except in Alberta and Saskatchewan: see Alberta Family Day). That suggestion grew louder as the flag celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2005. On Flag Day 2007, New Democratic Party MP Peggy Nash introduced a private member's bill to make Flag Day a national statutory holiday. Nash says her bill would make Flag Day a federal holiday and it would be up to the provinces to decide if they also wanted the statutory holiday. In Canada, a Statutory Holiday (also known as general or public holiday) is a holiday legislated either through the federal, provincial or territorial governments. ... This article is about January 1 in the Gregorian calendar. ... Good Friday is the Friday before Easter or Pascha. ... Motto: Fortis et liber (Latin: Strong and free) Official languages English (see below) Flower   Wild rose Tree Lodgepole Pine Bird Great Horned Owl Capital Edmonton Largest city Calgary Lieutenant-Governor Norman Kwong Premier Ed Stelmach (PC) Parliamentary representation  - House seats  - Senate seats 28 6 Area Total  - Land  - Water  (% of total... Motto: Multis E Gentibus Vires (Latin: From many peoples strength) Official languages English Flower Western Red Lily Tree Paper Birch Bird Sharp-tailed Grouse Capital Regina Largest city Saskatoon Lieutenant-Governor Gordon Barnhart Premier Lorne Calvert (NDP) Parliamentary representation  - House seats  - Senate seats 14 6 Area Total  - Land  - Water  (% of... Family Day is the name of a statutory holiday in Alberta, Canada; and a public holiday in South Africa. ... The New Democratic Party (NDP; Nouveau Parti démocratique in French) is a political party in Canada with a progressive social democratic philosophy that contests elections at both the federal and provincial levels. ...

See also

• Flag of Canada
• Great Flag Debate
• George F.G. Stanley

The National Flag of Canada, popularly known as the Maple Leaf and lUnifolié (French for the one-leaved), is a base red flag with a white square in its centre featuring a stylized, 11-pointed, red maple leaf. ... 1957 version of the Canadian Red Ensign that had evolved as the de facto national flag until 1965. ... The Flag of Canada George Francis Gillman Stanley, C.C., C.D., F.R.S.C., F.R.H.S.C. (hon). ...

External links

• National Flag of Canada Day
• Birth of Canada's National Flag