60th anniversary of Maple Leaf marked with pride on Flag Day

By Alexandra Noad - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on February 18, 2025.

Herald photo by Alexandra Noad Legion members lower an old flag and raise a new one at the Royal Canadian Legion on Saturday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Canadian flag.

Several members of the Legion along with other community members gathered at the Royal Canadian Legion on Saturday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Canadian flag.

On February 15, 1965, the Maple Leaf flag was inaugurated in a public ceremony and flew for the first time, after years of collaboration to create a new flag to represent Canada.

The ceremony on Saturday began with a short program led by Glenn Miller, co-chair of publications for General Stewart Branch No. 4 Royal Canadian Legion who spoke of the history of the Canadian flag followed by the retiring the Legion’s flag and raising a new one.

Miller says he believes it is important to learn about the history of the flag as it creates a sense of identity to longtime Canadians and newcomers alike.

“Every flag of every country generally has its colours incorporated in some way, shape or form,” says Miller. “Canada’s colours are red and white and it has a military connection because it was inspired by the flag designed by the Royal Military College of Canada.”

Legion member and former Lethbridge Member of Parliament, Rick Casson, had the honour of helping to lower and raise the new flag. He also received a King Charles III Coronation Medal for his work in politics, the military as he served as chair of the special committee in Afghanistan and as chair of the standing committee of the national defense and for his contribution of raising over $37,000 multiple sclerosis research, after his daughter was diagnosed with MS in 2006.

Casson says it was a “tremendous honour” to be recognized for his work.

“It’s a tremendous honour and it’s nice to have recognition, you don’t ask for it, it’s not why you do things, but when it comes, it feels pretty damn good.”

Casson says he remembers when the Canadian flag was chosen and what the process was like and was honoured that he was recognized as the Legion celebrated the anniversary of the flag.

“I was old enough to remember the day they chose what the new flag was chosen and it was quite a process, it was very dynamic and there was lots of ideas come across and they chose the right on in my mind, because now, after 60 years of it being our flag, it is recognized across the world and recognizes our country as a peace-loving, friendly, caring and that’s who we are, but don’t get us riled up, because we can do that aspect of it too.”

Richelle Marynowski, a professor of education at the University of Lethbridge, says she has a new-found appreciation for being Canadian and the flag after spending four months as an exchange professor at Hokkai-Gakuen University in Sapporo, Japan.

“I think going abroad and spending considerable amounts of time overseas really helps highlight some of the amazing things and the amazing way that we choose to live as Canadians, embracing multiculturalism, embracing other countries and other people and celebrating our differences as opposed to making people want to be all the same.”

During her time in Japan, Marynowski says people assumed she was American at first, but their attitude toward her changed as soon as they found out she was actually Canadian. She adds that they took Canadian stickers and tattoos and wore them with pride.

“Glenn Miller game me Canadian flag stickers and Canadian flag tattoos to give to people when I was over there and people took those with pride and wore them and put them in places that were completely visible.”

Many people in Japan were surprised to learn things such as Lacrosse, Basketball, Canadas contribution to space programs and for Marynowski it was special to be able to share her Canadian pride with her students.

“I was so proud to share things that we have accomplished and the things we do as a country,” said Marynowski. “I’m very proud to be Canadian, I tear up every time I hear the national anthem and to be able to share that pride and share that love of our country with others was excellent.”

Like Marynowski, Miller is sharing the Canadian love but keeping it close to home. He says he tries to instill love and respect for the Canadian flag to his children and grandchildren often allowing them to take part in the caring for the flag before it gets raised.

“I just bought one, it’s a slightly different material, but its heavier and I had my daughter iron it with me,” said Miller. “I always make sure a flag is ironed before it goes up the flagpole so it doesn’t look like it just came out of the bag and so she (is) passing on those lessons to have her children know and respect the flag as well.”

Miller says he plans to continue to pass the torch by speaking at schools about the flag and what it means to be Canadian.