Fun Flag Facts for National Flag of Canada Day!

Today is National Flag of Canada Day! 🇨🇦 So you KNOW we had to talk about it. In this blog we’re sharing some fun facts you might not know about the Canadian national flag!

Why celebrate National Flag of Canada Day February 15th?

It was on February 15, 1965 that the Canadian flag as we know it today was raised for the first time on Parliament Hill. Then in 1996, National Flag of Canada Day was declared! 

Going the distance

The Canadian flag has not only been proudly displayed across 9.985 million km² of our country, but has traveled other significant distances as well. 

In 1982, Laurie Skreslet successfully hiked Mount Everest, the highest point in the world, with a Canadian flag in hand.

Then in 1984 the Canadian flag saw a view privileged to only select people in the world. Space! The flag was launched into space with the first Canadian astronaut on a NASA space shuttle. 

Unique and beautiful design

Canada is the only country to have a maple leaf on its flag. If this doesn’t surprise you, you may be interested to know vexillologists (flag experts) cite the National Flag of Canada “as one of the world’s most beautiful.” This is based on the design and measurement of the use of colour. 

Flag Etiquette

You may not think often about flag etiquette in Canada, but that may be because the rules are now second nature to you! See if you knew these rules already:

  • When flying your flag vertically, the flag needs to be placed so the upper part of the leaf points to the left – according to the observer’s view.
  • A canton is a rectangular emblem placed at the top left of a flag. The Canadian flag canton is in the top left corner and should always be displayed in the top left.

  • When a flag is flown from a building, it’s not considered vertical and should be hung the same way it’s attached to a flagpole. 
  • On a ship, the ideal place to display the Canadian flag is at the stern. 

Want more flag etiquette? Click here!

Parliament Hill Flag Facts

Can you guess how big the flag on Parliament Hill’s Peace Tower is? It’s 4.6m (15ft) wide by 2.3m (7.5ft) tall – which is taller than the average Canadian. 

There is a waitlist over 100 YEARS LONG for requesting flags flown on Parliament Hill. The Peace Tower flag is changed daily to keep up with the demand. 

Looking to celebrate National Flag of Canada Day with your very own flag? Check out our flags here on our website!

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