National Flag of Canada Day and Extra Relevance of Flag Given Current Geopolitical Situation

Honourable senators, I rise to speak to Senator Cardozo’s inquiry calling the attention of the Senate to National Flag of Canada Day and the extra relevance of our flag given the current geopolitical situation.

When we think about flags, we often think of symbols hanging from buildings or waving in the wind, but flags are much more than pieces of fabric. They represent identity, culture, history and belonging.

In Newfoundland and Labrador especially, flags tell stories about the people who live here. Take the Franco-Newfoundland and Labrador flag. Adopted in 1986, it reflects both French heritage and local identity. The blue, white and red represent the community’s French origins, while the two yellow sails are the colour of Acadia and symbolize the arrival of their ancestors. One sail contains a tamarack branch, representing Labrador, and the other features the pitcher plant, the provincial flower of Newfoundland and Labrador. The design represents movement and resilience.

The Labrador flag carries its own story. Two years ago, Labrador celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its flag. Designed by Michael S. Martin in 1974, the flag was created to reflect Labrador’s geography, people and cultures. The colours each carry meaning: white represents snow, blue represents water and green represents land. The spruce twig symbolizes the three founding nations of Labrador — Inuit, Innu and White settlers alike — growing from the same branch, while remaining distinct. The provincial government described the flag as a symbol of “solidarity, resilience and a deep-rooted love” for Labrador.

Even Newfoundland and Labrador’s official provincial flag is packed with symbolism. Designed by Newfoundland and Labrador artist Christopher Pratt and adopted in 1980, its colours each have meaning: white for snow and ice, blue for the sea, red for human effort and gold for confidence in ourselves and the future. The design also contains symbols of the fishery, Indigenous artwork, a maple leaf and even a sword when displayed vertically, representing sacrifice in war.

All of these flags show something important: People use flags to express who they are.

That brings me to the Canadian Maple Leaf. For many Canadians, the Maple Leaf represents shared values and moments of unity. One powerful example came during the repatriation of an unknown First World War soldier. On May 25, 2024, a delegation of Canadian Armed Forces members flew to Normandy, France, as part Operation DISTINCTION. Their purpose was to bring home the remains of an unidentified Newfoundland soldier who died in the First World War.

The Canadian delegation, which I was honoured to be a part of, received his remains during a ceremony in Beaumont-Hamel before he was flown to St. John’s.

For much of Newfoundland’s history, the Union Jack served as the country’s flag and remains a cherished symbol for many today. Yet, on that day, as a Newfoundland soldier finally came home after more than a century, it was the Maple Leaf that draped his casket. In that moment, the Maple Leaf covering the casket, on the shoulders of the pallbearers from the 1st Battalion and 2nd Battalion of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, symbolized remembrance, sacrifice and national pride.

Recently, Canadians have shown a renewed attachment to the flag. Last year, in St. John’s, despite wind gusts reaching 110 kilometres per hour — or, as we would say back home, it was “blowin’ a gale” — people still gathered outdoors for a Canadian Flag Day rally. The event came after comments from our southern neighbours. Instead of weakening national identity, those comments seemed to strengthen it.

Across the country, people began speaking about the Maple Leaf with renewed appreciation. One Canadian described the flag as representing values like civility, humility, kindness and compassion and as a symbol of being distinctly Canadian. At the same time, stores reported that Canadian flags were flying off the shelves ahead of National Flag of Canada Day celebrations.

What connects all of these examples is identity. Flags matter because people matter. They allow communities to say, “This is who we are.” They connect us to our history, our values and each other.

While Canadians come from many different cultures, languages and regions, the Maple Leaf brings those identities together under one shared symbol — a symbol that continues to inspire pride from coast to coast to coast.

Thank you.