A sea of red and white filled Nathan Phillips Square on a snowy Saturday morning as hundreds of patriotic Torontonians gathered in celebration of National Flag of Canada Day.
Marking the 60th anniversary of the Canadian flag, the event featured a flag-raising ceremony and a special performance of Welcome to the Rock by the cast of the Canadian musical Come From Away.
Mayor Olivia Chow was joined by city councillors and other dignitaries to kick off the festivities.
Canadian pride was on full display from the city’s leaders and the crowd, with rallying cries against the U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and annexation threats.
During her opening remarks, Chow led several chants including, “51st state? No way!” and “We are proud Canadians!”
“The red maple leaf is a globally recognized symbol of our values, our geography, our nature, and most important, our sovereignty and independence,” Chow said. “A flag for all Canadians, one leaf representing our unity.”
Chow didn’t hold back when discussing the current leadership to the south.
“When we are getting attacked by some senseless trade action, we stand together,” she said. “Canadians are known to be polite, but let me be clear: As proud Canadians, we do not back down from bullies. We will never be the 51st state. We are and will forever be Canadians. We are strong and we are proud.”
Special guests at this morning's ceremony included internet comedian Brittlestar, as well as Ontario’s first Poet Laureate, Randell Adjei. Flavio Volpe, head of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, was also in attendance.
Canada’s flag was designed by George F. G. Stanley, a military historian and former lieutenant-colonel in the Canadian Army in the mid-1960s.
Stanley’s original design featured a stylized maple leaf with 13 points, though it was later redesigned with 11 points by graphic artist Jacques St-Cyr.
At the time it was designed, some members of Parliament argued the flag should retain symbols of Canada's British and French origins. Others supported a uniquely Canadian symbol.
On Dec. 15, 1964, MPs voted 163 to 78 for the 11-point maple leaf design to become the country’s flag.
The flag was officially raised on Feb. 15, 1965.
National Flag of Canada Day has been celebrated on this day every year since 1996.
Don Campbell, a Flag Day attendee who grew up in Quebec and now lives in Toronto, was a teenager when the government voted in favour of the flag 60 years ago. He has proudly supported the maple leaf design since day one.
“I remember it was a big controversy and a big deal at the time,” he told TorontoToday. “It was nice when we finally got the flag and I was very happy with it. It’s distinctive and that’s what makes me really proud.”
Following the flag-raising ceremony, attendees headed over to a skate party at Nathan Phillips Square. Free hot chocolate was handed out by Box 12 Association volunteers and DJ MelBoogie provided event goers with an all-Canadian playlist of music.
