The Complete Factual Story of how

Our Canadian Maple Leaf Flag

“became”

THE NATIONAL FLAG OF CANADA

The story of how a Brockville Ontario Vexillologist Robert J. (Bob) Harper successfully compiled the detailed facts of who and how the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag was brought to fruition in 1964/65. Nearly 53 years after the National Flag of Canada was first flown on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. With 6 ½ years, 40,000 documents, over 15,000 hours of research.

All of this began as a not quite seven year old child who met a fellow citizen of Brockville by the name of John Ross Matheson in the spring of 1961. Mr. Matheson sat on the back step of our house at 70 Amy Street in Brockville Ontario and explained to me, he had been a friend of my Dad and was campaigning to become our Member of Parliament (Liberal Party of Leeds County) and had dropped by to ask my Mom for her support (my Dad had died in 1957) and was a veteran of WW11. The impression of this man walking up our driveway with the assistance of his canes is something I will remember forever. Mr. Matheson was elected to Parliament in a by-election on May 29^th 1961.

By December 15^th 1964 I was consumed by the work Mr. Matheson was doing as our elected Member of Parliament to bring a new flag to all Canadians. As a child I was probably not very knowledgeable about the workings of Government but for some strange and unexplainable reason I was totally into “The Great Flag Debate” and the conversations of what this debate was all about. For many years after the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag was first raised on February 15^th 1965 I was able to speak with Mr. Matheson on many subjects, but the flag was always the main subject of discussion.

In 1982 I was working with the Village of Westport Ontario during the 150^th Anniversary of the Rideau Canal. I had the opportunity to have a conversation with Mr. Matheson and we discussed the fact that most Canadians only knew about the negative and divisive debate that took place leading up to the birth of our flag. They did not seem to know about the details of whom and how it had been brought to fruition. Several decades past and a mutual friend Judge Charles Anderson suggested I get in touch with then 90 year old Mr. Matheson and see if we could discuss the many details. In May of 2008 I met with Mr. Matheson at the Annual St. John’s Ambulance Dinner and we agreed to begin conversing on a regular basis to ensure all of the details and all of the people who contributed were identified and some sort of record would be made available.

In August of 2010 I was ready to move back to my home town of Brockville and I spoke with Mr. Matheson to ask if we could begin having regular meetings to discuss the detailed history of who and how our Canadian Maple Leaf Flag was brought to fruition in 1964/65. We started to have 2 or 3 hour meetings several times a week, which lasted until 2 weeks before his death on December 27^th 2013 at age 96.

During all of these meetings Mr. Matheson would answer my pre-arranged questions with his very kind but professional demeanour and in most instances directed me to find the correct information through a variety of resources rather than just providing a direct answer. Although sometimes very frustrating I now understand why he employed this methodology to the discussions.

The research and verification of information has proven to be invaluable in the quest to bring a factual account and chronological awareness to all Canadians of the many loving hands who contributed to the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag becoming the National Flag of Canada.

This information is now being made available through Government of Canada information websites as well as other very highly respected individuals and organizations through-out Canada.

During the past 6 ½ years it became more obvious to me that the information available to the general public had been dominated by 2 or 3 families wanting to expropriate the recognition of involvement of suggestions, and glorification of credit which had been made available by John Ross Matheson himself. The most interesting thing I have discovered is, the facts of history are so often replaced by family told stories which are increasingly manipulated and made to fit the story being told, rather than the true factual account and as time passes and the stories gain a form of credibility through association of institutions, organizations, friends and extended family members.

I can think of at least 3 referenced historical stories which have been recently proven to be nothing more than family told stories with no verifiable facts.

The first of these three stories is that of Betsy Ross as the creator of the first American Flag. It has recently been found that there is absolutely no evidence to prove she had anything to do with sewing the first American Flag. The story came from her grandson some 85 years after the event was to have taken place. History researchers in the United States spent thousands of hours researching the story and concluded there were no facts to verify the family story at all.

The second story which has recently been found to have been debunked is the famous, Rosenthal Flag Raising picture and historical account of Iwo Jima during the Second World War. It was discovered by amateur historians that one of the soldiers in the picture was mistaken for another soldier and was not part of the flag raising at all. It just happens that the son of the soldier who was not actually part of the flag raising was the author of the book about the event and sold the rights to the movie industry for a very large sum of money. Again a family told story which had absolutely no credibility when the facts were brought to light.

The third story is that of Thomas Edison and the creation of the electric light bulb. After nearly 100 years researchers discovered that in reality Thomas Edison had purchased the patent from its original inventor. Although Edison did develop many more complex electrical devises he had been given credit for something he just plain and simply did not do.

When you take a close look at the many other misconceptions and family driven stories from around the entire world you can begin to understand how “history” can be skewed to provide credit and accomplishments which in reality are quite simply not true.

In the case of who and how our beloved Canadian Maple Leaf Flag was brought to fruition there were several issues which over a period of nearly 53 years have been used by a few families and institutions to create a story which has now been proven to be both misleading and exaggerated to say the least.

The first is that of Alan Beddoe. The facts reflect that he did not work to bring the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag to fruition. Alan Beddoe worked in a manner to have his design of what he believed should become the National Flag of Canada. This design was dubbed the “Pearson Pendant” and had 3 co-joined red maple leafs on a white field with 2 blue borders. His design was eliminated by the Flag Committee vote. Mr. Beddoe’s betrayal of John Ross Matheson is well documented in the Library Archives of Canada. The Beddoe family story places Mr. Beddoe in a position of a “Father of the Flag” which is not true. Mr. Beddoe was an accomplished Heraldic Expert, Government of Canada Artist and had many successful contributions. But he did everything in his power to undermine the effort which brought the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag to fruition.

Dr. George Stanley made a suggestion to John Ross Matheson during Mr. Matheson’s preliminary research of what it would take to bring a National Flag of Canada into being. Mr. Matheson arranged to have lunch with Dr. Stanley at the RMC mess in February of 1964. At the end of the lunch Dr. Stanley, John Ross Matheson and Mr. Matheson’s son Duncan walked out of the mess and were standing close to the Parade Square when Dr. Stanley pointed to the Flag of RMC and said “there John is your new flag”. Mr. Matheson was quick to say “Canadians would never accept a mailed fist as its symbol” and Dr. Stanley said “no John I mean red, white, red with a maple leaf in the centre” on March 23^rd 1964 Dr. Stanley followed up by sending a memo to John Ross Matheson describing his suggestion in detail. John Ross Matheson was a graduate of RMC and felt this suggestion was interesting. On December 15^th 1964 at 2:13 am after the Parliament of Canada voted to accept the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag, Mr. Matheson wrote on a Parliamentary postcard “congratulations George we have selected your flag”. Mr. Matheson explained the postcard to me in the following manner. After months of debate and turmoil regarding the work to bring a National Flag of Canada to fruition he felt he needed to bring instantaneous Institutional credibility to the new flag. Using the RMC connection (he stated) would limit the conception that the new flag was a “Liberal Flag”. (Red and White)

The factual reality of the Stanley suggestion was only discovered in late 1965 or January of 1966 (after the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag was official). Mr. Matheson was made aware, by his associate Mr. George Beley that he had discovered in Government of Canada Archives, on February 4^th 1919 Major- General (later Sir) Eugene Fiset sent a memo to his boss the Under Secretary of State for the Department of Militia and Defence of Canada, Thomas Mulvoy to discuss the requirements to update the Armorial Bearings of Canada. In this memo Fiset suggested the “symbol of Canada” be “a single red maple leaf on a white field” with 2 red borders. This information was a beginning proposition which culminated in King George V proclaiming Canada’s Official colours to be Red and White and three co-joined red maple leafs to be part of the Armorial Bearings of Canada in 1921.

Then there are the “suggested words” describing Dr. George Stanley as the “designer or creator” of the National Flag of Canada. The use of these words to describe Dr. Stanley’s involvement is both wrong and ridiculous. Dr. Stanley was not a member of the “Flag Committee”, the “Design Team” nor was he a Member of Canada’s 26^th Parliament.

The Flag committee work was co-ordinated in every facet by the Honourable John Ross Matheson as a Member of Parliament and member of the Flag Committee. His role was to co-ordinate and oversee all aspects of suggestions, heraldic, and historical input on behalf of Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson. After the October 22^th 1964 vote by the committee to accept the “single red maple leaf on a white field between 2 red borders” the work of a final design began.

The final Maple Leaf design was created by Jacques Saint Cyr from the Department of Expositions on November 9^th 1964 with the assistance of Patrick Reid and input from John Ross Matheson. The 2:1 proportions of the flag were suggested by George Bist. The colours were determined by Dr. Gunter Wyszecki and his team from the National Research Council of Canada.

Although there is proof that both Dr. George Stanley from Royal Military College and Mr. Alan Beddoe were involved in the process of bringing the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag to fruition they neither created nor designed the National Flag of Canada. Mr. Matheson (the person most responsible) always spoke of the many loving hands it took to bring the flag to fruition, and stated clearly “there was not one person who designed or created” the National Flag of Canada.

I have written 2 books which detail the story of both who and how our Canadian Maple Leaf Flag was brought to fruition and further details of the work Mr. Matheson accomplished as a resident of Brockville and Leeds County (now Leeds and Grenville)and as a Member of Parliament. It is my mission to bring awareness of these details to all Canadians, but foremost the school age children through our education system. My colleagues and I are currently working to have all of this information made available as a Grade 10 Civics Curriculum moving forward.

It is not an easy task to gain support for an effort so complex and entrenched in misinformation dating back over 50 years. I truly believe the facts will bring recognition to the individuals and organization that truly deserve the credit for each and every part they played to bring the most recognized symbol of Canada to fruition. My goal is to continue the effort to bring awareness to the facts and nothing but the facts.

All over the world today there are reports of new information coming to light relating to events and individuals from all walks of life and an endless timeframe. I sometimes wonder if the individuals who made false or exaggerated claims 50, 75 or 100 years ago ever gave any thought to how the documented facts would appear on websites or be available through online research.

Maybe what this story proves, even more than, the facts relating to the work of the many loving hands who were responsible for bringing the National Flag of Canada to fruition, is the need to understand how the moral values of people can affect the way “History” is seen. I was raised to believe you should never just accept someone else’s view without debate. Not to say you should be skeptical and argumentative in nature but to strive to understand and be aware of facts versus fiction. The details of who and how our Canadian Maple Leaf Flag was brought to fruition are all available to anyone who wishes to complete the research. The “work” required to complete the research reaches far beyond reading the information provided on Wikipedia. I can say with total confidence there are very few average working class people who would have the time, finances, persistence and tenacity to “research” any subject in the detail I have completed over the past 6 ½ years.

This brings me to the next part of the story. You may be wondering at this point, what is the reason a person would dedicate so much effort to one subject? The following pages are the real answer to that question and I hope the information is enlightening and provides details of a subject most Canadians did not previous know along with a message of motivation, caring and truth.

Anyone who has made and fulfilled a commitment will tell you, your word is your bond. I have completed this work over the past 6 ½ years as a passion and I have made every effort humanly possible to fulfill the commitment I made. There is no single answer that would make sense to cover the enormous amount of work, time and effort (not to mention a life savings) which has been spent to bring this information together, other than to say “I Promised”.

All I can do now is hope that the information is made available to each and every person who has any interest in the most recognized symbol of Canada in the world today. Spreading the awareness of the information contained in these documents will take more time and more effort moving forward. As you read the “rest of the story” as Paul Harvey would say, it will become clear that the story told here is the most comprehensive accumulation of detailed facts and verifiable information related to “The Many Loving Hands of Canada’s Maple Leaf Flag” ever compiled.

The following pages contain the names and details of individuals and organizations whose contributions spanned nearly 100 years to bring a truly unifying symbol of Canada into being.

“The Many Loving Hands of Canada’s Maple Leaf Flag”

The Honourable John Ross Matheson wanted each and every Canadian to know the names of all the people who contributed in some way to bring a National Flag of Canada to fruition. The following is an in-depth informative review of the individuals, agencies, Government of Canada departments, and Parliamentary procedures which began in 1895/96 and concluded in 1964/65 in a final design and creation known as “The Canadian Maple Leaf Flag”.

Defining the effort:

In today’s world of fast paced change and online (non- committal) communication I am totally convinced the majority of people on earth have forgotten the intention of making a promise.

I have spent the past 6 ½ years working every single day to fulfill a promise I made to a friend. It was, what I thought, a fairly straight forward and simple task which I now understand was a life changing commitment. I made this promise to a person who I respected and admired my entire life, I knew he would not ask me to make such a promise if it would be impossible to keep.

It is now January of 2018, I made this promise in August of 2011. As of today I have spent more than 15,000 hours reviewing over 40,000 documents and communicating with several hundred Canadians in very important positions to ensure the promise I made is fulfilled.

The promise I made to my friend the Honourable John Ross Matheson was to bring awareness to all Canadians the TRUE facts and detailed credit of exactly who and how our beloved Canadian Maple Leaf Flag was brought to fruition. John asked me, Bob Harper, an average working class Canadian with no political or social prowess to undertake the process which would acknowledge the many loving hands who worked for nearly 100 years to bring a truly unifying National Flag of Canada into being. In the more than 52 years since the birth of the most recognized symbol of Canada in the world, there have been many overlooked contributions from individuals, and myths of credits exaggerated by others.

These myths and stories have over-shadowed the work and credit of “the many loving hands” that were responsible for the design and creation of the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag.

John Ross Matheson admitted he had made some errors in judgement in providing certain credits and was extremely saddened to have realized the work done by so many dedicated Canadians had been overlooked and not honoured in the proper way in the annals of history.

Mr. Matheson had made 2 attempts to rectify this injustice by bringing forward detailed credits in an October 1968 keynote speech at the Heraldry Society of Canada’s Annual meeting in Ottawa and again in 1991 in an acceptance speech at the Royal Military College in Kingston. In both cases his plea to set the record straight was not heeded. Mr. Matheson had accomplished so much in his life and had given Canada so much; he believed you should keep your promises.

In July 1961 John Ross Matheson made a promise to Lester B. Pearson to begin researching what it would take to bring a National Flag of Canada to fruition. This promise was a commitment to a man who had made a promise to himself (Pearson) to do whatever it would take to bring a “unifying symbol” of Canada into being.

My quest to fulfill my promise quickly became a life changing commitment. It became very clear that an everyday ordinary Canadian would require the assistance and support of many more loving hands to complete this work. The task of gathering information which is nearly 100 years old and in some cases documented incorrectly would discourage some of the most dedicated people in the world. I now understand what I committed to when I made my promise to Mr. Matheson and being totally honest I would not change any part of it.

I have realized you do not need to be a PhD or a Rhodes Scholar to bring the truth to the forefront, what you really need is persistence, tenacity and the help of a lot of people. Asking for help has never been my greatest attribute but it is now!

I have been able to fulfill this promise with the help and support of my wife Sue, our adopted “Auntie Anne” and some very generous friends. I have also been provided with support from the entire Leeds and Grenville community, our Member of Parliament, our Member of the Provincial Parliament, and no less the seven Government of Canada departments and agencies. I have had conversations with some of the highest ranking Government of Canada officials and Department heads as well as leaders in the areas of Heraldry, History, Heritage, Education as well as some highly respected journalists. My unorthodox methods of reaching out to some of these truly exceptional Canadians were sometimes humorous and I know I probably did not provide the level of respect their positions were used to getting but, I got it done.

In one such communication with a very highly respected authority they referred to me as a “bull in a China shop” and I am certain that is exactly how I came across in my line of questions. Sometimes you just have to seize the opportunity to bring your concerns forward when you can.

The intent of this report is to bring awareness of the “many loving hands” who contributed in bringing our National Flag of Canada to fruition but also to bring awareness to what you can accomplish as an everyday average Canadian when you make a commitment like making a promise to a friend.

It has been said that as a human being there will be many people who come in and out of your life, but, I have discovered many people use the word “friend” and what they really mean is “associate or “acquaintance”. Friend is a word that should mean someone very special, whereas, associate or acquaintance are everyday interpersonal contacts. These terms are used in everyday communications with family, fellow workers, sports groups and neighbourhoods around the world. If you were falsely accused and thrown in a foreign jail do you have a friend who would do everything to get you home?

This report is the culmination of work which spans almost 7 years. I have accomplished far more than I ever thought possible and for this I will always be in debt to my friend and fellow Canadian the Honourable John Ross Matheson.

Since 2010 I have been part of something far bigger than just me, my family or my community. The work to bring awareness of the “many loving hands” who took part in bringing the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag to fruition, to all Canadians will be a lasting tribute to each and every one of these truly exceptional Canadians.

The 6 community based projects we have completed have brought awareness to the history of who and how our most recognized symbol of Canada was brought to fruition and also how it is viewed around the entire world. I have successfully worked with our Municipalities of Leeds and Grenville, Provincial and Federal Governments, Members of Parliament, Members of the Ontario Legislature, The Canadian Museum of History, Canadian Heritage, Heraldry Authority of Canada, several Universities, Ontario Ministry of Education, Ontario History and Social Science Teachers Association, as well as numerous other Government of Canada departments and agencies to bring the true detailed facts to the forefront.

I have successfully collaborated with Historica Canada to produce a mini-documentary video which is part of the Canadian Encyclopedia and our Canadian Flag Education Centre has been recognized by the National Research Council of Canada for our efforts to ensure recognition is given to each and every individual and organization which took part in bringing the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag to fruition

The Findings:

I would like to bring forth the results of exactly what my promise to the Honourable John Ross Matheson has produced. The following chronological and detailed account of who and how our beloved Canadian Maple Leaf Flag was brought to fruition in 1964/65. This account has been compiled and verified by exhaustive research of archival documents, journals, magazine articles, newspaper reports and interviews with some of the last surviving participants responsible for bringing the “NOW” most recognized symbol of Canada in the world to fruition. This research was conducted by myself Robert J. (Bob) Harper and a team of dedicated professionals over a 6 ½ year time frame to ensure the request of the “Father of our Flag” John Ross Matheson to bring recognition to the “many loving hands” ”was honoured. The following provides this recognition.

1895/96 Edward M. Chadwick – Lawyer- Heraldry/History enthusiast who first recommended to the Canadian Government in 1895/96 a National Flag for Canada with the Maple Leaf being the favoured emblem. REF, U of T library

February 4^th 1919 Major – General (later Sir) Eugene Fiset – First person to suggest in writing February 4^th 1919, the emblem of Canada be “a single red maple leaf on a white field” with 2 red borders. (Armorial Bearings). REF, Matheson files, LAC, RHSC archives October 1968 Matheson Speech

1921 King George V – Proclaimed Canada’s official colours as Red & White. REF, LAC

1925 Prime Minister McKenzie-King – Requested submissions for a National flag but failed to proceed with the contentious issue. REF, LAC

1946 Paul Martin Sr. – Headed a committee which set the standards of a National Flag of Canada, this committee brought forth a proposal but was not pursued by Parliament. REF, LAC

1948-64 George Beley – Friend and advisor to John Ross Matheson on all things relating to heraldry, flags and honours from 1948 through 1975 in Brockville Ontario. Mr. Beley was one of the founding pioneers of the Heraldry Society of Canada. REF, RHSC, JRM memoirs

1956-65 Lester B. Pearson – Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner who dedicated his efforts to bring a National Flag to Canada through the Parliamentary process in the 1960’s. REF, LAC

1960-61 Members of the Liberal Party of Canada who were responsible for drafting the wording of the National Flag of Canada policy. REF, LPC archives
1961-65 John Ross Matheson – Member of Parliament/ Flag Expert who was responsible for bringing all of the suggestions, designs and details of the National Flag of Canada to fruition from 1961-65. REF, LAC, Flag Committee Archives

1963/64 George Bist – Advertising executive who spent many hours communicating his input to Government of Canada personnel relating to the need and design of a National Flag of Canada. It was Mr. Bist’s suggestion of the exact proportions of the 2 times length as height as well as the white centre section being 2 times the size of the red borders. He also was responsible for the sizing of the maple leaf to all of the other proportions. REF, Flag Committee Archives

Sept 10^th – October 22 1964 Members of the Flag Committee of 1964- All 15 Members of Parliament who worked diligently to bring a recommended National Flag of Canada to Parliament to be voted on in 1964. REF, LAC

March 1964 George Stanley – Made the suggestion to John Ross Matheson of a single red maple leaf on a white field be the basis of the National Flag of Canada (recycled Fiset concept) in 1964. REF, Flag Committee Archives

1964 Alan Beddoe – Government of Canada Artist and Heraldry expert who presented Prime Minister Pearson with his own design for a National Flag of Canada which became known as the “Pearson Pennant” and was the beginning point of the “Great Flag Debate” in 1964. REF, Flag Committee Archives

October 1964 Arthur Lower – Professor Lower was one of several presenters of information directly to the Flag Committee in October of 1964. His moving statements relating to the opportunity to bring unity to all Canadians through a National Flag was most interesting. REF, Flag Committee Archives

October 1964 Conrad Swan – Provided John Ross Matheson with expert advice on the heraldic and historical considerations of a National Flag. REF, Flag Committee Archives

October 1964 Fortescue Duguid- Military historian/heraldry expert who presented his input and views of the characteristics and principals a National Flag for Canada to the Flag Committee in 1964. REF, Flag Committee Archives

October 1964 Patrick Reid – The head of the design team at Expositions Canada who was requested to become involved in the final design and creation of the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag as we know it today. REF, LAC

Ken Donovan – Working with the team from Expositions Canada, Mr. Donovan was asked to find a company to sew several prototype flags on Friday November 6^th, so the Prime Minister could actually fly them over the week-end. Due to the fact it was late on a Friday Mr. Donovan could not find a company to execute this task immediately. He requested his daughter to complete the task because she had a sewing machine and was always ready to help.

Joan O’Malley – On Friday November 6^th at approximately 8pm Joan O’Malley began working on 3 prototype flags; she sewed until close to midnight to complete all 3. These 3 prototype flags were then delivered to the Prime Minister for his review. REF, JRM, J O interview

November 9th 1964- the final design of the Canadian Maple leaf Flag was produced around 2:30 PM by the team of Jacques Saint Cyr (artist) Patrick Reid (Manager of Design) and John Ross Matheson MP (flag project coordinator) and sent to the Privy Council Office for approval. Alan Winship then made arrangements on Wed. November 10th to send the sketch to Bruck Mills in Cowansville Quebec to have the first prototype of the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag produced. The first prototype was produced on November 16th 1964 and delivered to the Privy Council Office on November 17th.

November 1964-June 1966 Dr. Gunter Wyszecki (NRC team)- The involvement on the National Research Council of Canada team began in the wind tunnel testing of the prototype flags in November of 1964. Dr. Gunter Wyszecki was also responsible to research the scientific standard of the colours of the National Flag of Canada from February of 1965 to June of 1966. Dr. Wyszecki and his dedicated team of scientists created the very first scientific standard for colour of a national flag. There are more than 500,000 shades of red and this team instituted the exact colour of red we, as Canadians admire in the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag flown around the world today. REF, LAC, NRC Archives

December 9^th 1964 Lucien Lamoureux – Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons who accepted a motion from the floor of the House of Commons to bring the discussions and debate of the National Flag of Canada to a vote and invoking closure. REF, Hansard Journals

December 9^th 1964 Leon Balcer – Conservative Member of Parliament from Quebec who requested a motion of closure by the Government on the “Great Flag Debate” REF, Hansard Journals

December 9^th 1964 Real Caouette – Social Credit Member of Parliament who seconded the motion put forth by Leon Balcer to invoke closure of debate and call a vote on the National Flag of Canada. REF, Hansard Journals

1964/65 Canada’s 26^th Parliament – It was one of the most vicious and divisive debates in the history of our Canadian Parliament. The Great Flag Debate raged on for months in the House of Commons. The final outcome was a 163-78 vote in favour of the National Flag of Canada being accepted as the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag on December 15^th 1964. This act of Parliament was beyond doubt, one of the most incredible outcomes from a minority Government in the history of Canada. From this democratic process came the most respected symbol of Canada in the world today. REF, Hansard Journals

December 15^th 1964 Robert Thompson – Mr. Thompson was Member of the Social Credit Party in Parliament in 1964 and was instrumental in persuading members of his party to vote yes on the flag issue. REF, see vote Hansard Journals

December 15^th 1964 Paul Martineau – Mr. Martineau was a Conservative MP who worked behind the scenes to convince other Conservative Members of Parliament to vote yes on the flag issue. REF, see vote Hansard Journals

December 17^th 1964 – Senate of Canada approves the National Flag of Canada as the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag

January 28^th 1965 Queen Elizabeth II – Proclaimed the National Flag of Canada. This was the final piece of a process which spanned more than 96 years in the making. REF, LAC

February 15^th 1965 Archie Cairns – Pipe Major who officially piped the new National Flag of Canada from the Centre Block into Parliament was one of the world’s most respected and accomplished Canadian pipers. REF, LAC

February 15^th 1965. Joseph Secours – 26 year old RCMP officer was chosen to be the person responsible to officially raise the first National Flag of Canada on February 15^th 1965. REF, Ottawa Citizen

Governor General of Canada Georges Vanier – During the Great Flag Debate and the process to bring the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag to fruition. The Governor-General of Canada is responsible to oversee all of Canada’s symbols and Honours as the Queen’s representative in Canada. REF, LAC

In Conclusion:

The foregoing account and detailed credits are a culmination of my work for the past 6 ½ years and fulfills my promise to John Ross Matheson. I have been humbled as well as proud to have worked this hard to bring this information together so all Canadians have the opportunity to know the names of the many loving hands who worked for nearly 100 years to bring the now most recognized symbol of Canada into being.

This report is intended to provide historical information, recognition of people and organizations but most of all as the author of this report I am hoping that each and every person who reads it will have a new found self- awareness of your values as Canadians and a true sense of what it means to make and keep a promise to a friend.

Sincerely,

Robert J. (Bob) Harper

Executive Director
Canadian Flag Education Centre

List of research contacts:

2010 -2017

John Ross Matheson “Father of our Flag”

Neville Johnston Lawyer & Business Partner of John Ross Matheson

Alistair Fraser Historian/Author Canadian Flag expert

Rick Archbold Author/Historian Canadian Flag expert

Auguste Vachon Herald Enumerus/Historian/Author

Bruce Patterson Deputy Chief Herald of Canada

Joan O’Malley Sewed the first prototypes of the 13 point design

John Holtby Parliamentary Library Authority

Queens University Holder of John Ross Matheson’s archives

Mount Allison Archives Holder JRM Thesis from 1975

Madelaine Morrison PhD Freelance Researcher

Emelie Perrin-Clow PhD Freelance Researcher

Forrest Pass PhD Curator Canadian Museum of History

Michael MacDonald PhD Manager Library Archives of Canada

Glenn Wright Retired researcher from LAC

Paul (Smokie) LeBlanc Canadian Heritage National Flag of Canada

Tanya Fournel Government of Canada

Sheila Cimpaye Governor-General’s Office

Dick Bourgeois-Doyle Secretary-General National Research Council

Roy Mayer National Flag of Canada Day Promoter

Susan Bernard Canadian Heritage

Robert Watt Canada’s first Chief Herald/Honours Chair

Patrick Reid Design Team Canadian Maple Leaf Flag

Paul Hellyer Member of Parliament 1964 Flag supporter

Paul Hunter Toronto Star Journalist

John Geddes McClean’s Magazine Journalist/ Jacques St. Cyr story

Rob Reside PhD Flag Historian/ Vexillologist

Ken Reynolds PhD DND Historian/Author/ Vexillologist

Hansard Journals 26^th Parliament of Canada records

John Mackie Freelance Journalist/ Patrick Reid story

Ted Kaye International renowned Vexillologist

Paul Martin Jr. Prime Minister and friend of JRM

Peter Warren Canada’s most accomplished investigative journalist

Larry Rosenthal Bruck Mills Historian

Allan Winship Lawyer, Privy Council Office 1964

Privy Council Office Archival Section

Anthony Wilson-Smith President/CEO Historica Canada

Joanne Archibald Historica Canada administration

Canadian Encyclopedia Web content group

Ian Kyer Lawyer, wrote Biography of Edward M Chadwick

Fionna Cairns Daughter of Major Archie Cairns

Matheson Family Detailed stories of JRM

Candice Bist Daughter of George Bist credited with sizing & portions

Canadian Flag Education Centre

The History of The National Flag of Canada…

REPORT