Q. February 15 marks the 37th anniversary of Canada's existing flag. Who was responsible for actually making the first Canadian Maple leaf flag?
A. That claim to fame goes to a woman named Joan O'Malley. But first, a little history.
The search for a new, distinct Canadian flag began back in 1925, but as we all know, the maple leaf we now see flying across Canada and the world wasn't raised until 40 years later. The 1925 committee never completed its work. Another committee was stuck in 1946 and though it received more than 2,600 designs, Parliament never formally voted on any of them.
Things finally got rolling for good in 1964 when then Prime Minister Lester Pearson informed the government that Canada should have its own flag by the 1967 centennial at the latest. By late 1964, the designs had been narrowed to three. One of the choices was a red maple leaf on a white background. Red and white had been proclaimed Canada's national colours by King George V in 1921.
In late 1964, Pearson wanted prototypes of the new flag to study one weekend at his new residence at Harrington Lake. According to Heritage Canada, the only designs available at the time were on paper. However, Ken Donovan, an assistant purchasing director with the Canadian Government Exhibition Commission got his team of designers working on it immediately. Graphic artist Jean Desrosiers and John Williams were called into work one late Friday evening to help get the flag made. There was no seamstress available so Joan O'Malley, the daughter of Ken Donovan was given the task.
During a ceremony celebrating the flag's 30th anniversary, O'Malley recalled her work: "I was just doing my father a favour; not participating in history. I was no professional. My sewing machine wasn't made for such heavy material. But eventually, the flag came together."
The flag was first raised at noon, February 15, 1965.