COLUMN: Carillon Flashback – February 19, 1965, Maple Leaf introduced as Canada’s new flag

Several hundred Steinbach school children and adults shivered in the bright, cold sunshine, Feb. 15, as they watched the raising of Canada’s new maple leaf flag at the old Kornelsen School, near the intersection of Reimer Avenue and Main Street.

Steinbach Mayor L.A. Barkman read Manitoba Premier Duff Roblin’s proclamation, Steinbach Collegiate Principal J. J. Peters made a short speech and Rev. David Berg of the Emmanual Mission Church gave the invocation during the brief ceremony.

Then, the Canadian Union Jack Red Ensign, which had been Canada’s official flag since Confederation, was lowered from the flagstaff. As the crowd sang O Canada the new red Maple Leaf was slowly raised, fluttering in the steady breeze.

At the same moment, a man on the roof of Steinbach Town Office replaced the Red Ensign with the Maple Leaf flag.

In his speech, Peters said the maple leaf was typically a Canadian emblem, and now that it was officially Canada’s flag, people should respect it and be proud of it.

But the adoption of the new Canadian flag did not come without a certain amount of confusion, and in some cases, controversy.

A week before the new flag was to be unfurled, Steinbach Town Council was in a dither about whether they should have a flag raising ceremony, and even wondered if they would be able to obtain the new flag in time for its official unveiling Feb. 15.

In Winnipeg, and in other cities and towns where flag-raisings took place, government officials were still unsure of where the new flag should be flown.

A provincial spokesman said the red Manitoba Ensign would continue to fly over Manitoba schools, as laid down as an amendment to the Public Schools Act, passed by Manitoba’s Conservative government last spring. It was anticipated Premier Duff Roblin would propose another amendment to allow the flying of the new flag over Manitoba schools.

In Winnipeg, Premier Roblin took part in a ceremony to raise the Maple Leaf Ensign on one of the flag poles at the Manitoba Legislative Building. The Union Jack will continue to fly, as the symbol of British Commonwealth ties, on another of the flag poles at the Manitoba Legislature.

In Quebec, where schools have always flown the Fleur de Lis flag of Quebec, instead of the national flag, there was no indication a change would be in the offing.

On the other hand, many Canadian commercial firms embraced the idea of the new Canadian flag and announced their intentions of flying it on flag poles at their office headquarters buildings.

The vice president of Canadian Propane Consolidated Ltd was one of the first to announce Canada’s new official flag would soon be seen flying over all its Canadian branches.

“Each of the company’s 50 Canadian branches will be receiving flags, as Canadian Propane is proud to be one of the first national companies to salute the new Maple Leaf flag in this manner.”