The Red Ensign seems to be a military flag in Canadian history. I don't think a campaign to restore it will go far over now, more than 60 years later. People know the flag with the maple leaf in its centre. Few will know (or remember) the old flags, including the Red Ensign. Also, it seems to be about Canada's heritage with the British and the monarchy in England. I think we have outgrown that. It is symbolic, not purposeful or necessary. I don't want to forget our past, our links to England, and France. But, I'm Canadian, the maple leaf is Canadian. I don't want to trade it in for another flag. But, I do still like the name: The Dominion of Canada. It sounds formal and elegant but its about being under British sovereignty, so a cosmetic title and not used any longer.

Dominion Society of Canada - Restore the Red Ensign

In 1965, the national flag of Canada was changed from the Canadian Red Ensign to the current Maple Leaf flag without so much as a referendum to give people a voice to see if they wanted to change the current flag or not.

In 2014, while it might be too late to make the Canadian Red Ensign the national flag of Canada, it is never too late to right this historical wrong by making the Canadian Red Ensign an official flag of Canada similar in status to the current national flag and the Royal Union Flag.

The Canadian Red Ensign should be flown at all appropriate war memorials and cemeteries, Canada Day, and other places and events where Canada's past should be honoured. The flag should be also be accorded the same reverence and respect as the national flag.

via - Bring Back the Red Ensign. (Facebook group, not active)

I also found - Canadian Red Ensign Campaign The website is 404 but the page is still on Facebook, not active.

National Flag of Canada Day — February 15 At the stroke of noon on February 15, 1965, Canada’s red and white maple leaf flag was raised for the very first time on Parliament Hill. On the same day in 1996, National Flag of Canada Day was declared.

Canadian Flag Etiquette

• The National Flag of Canada should always fly alone on its own flagpole or mast.

• The National Flag of Canada can be flown at night without being lit.

• When the National Flag of Canada is raised or lowered, or when it is carried past in a parade or review, people should face the flag, men should remove their hats, and all should remain silent.

• The National Flag of Canada is lowered to half-mast on occasions when a demonstration of sorrow is called for. Canada has its own Rules for Half-masting.

• Replace a faded or torn flag with a new one. When a flag becomes tattered and is no longer in a suitable condition for use, it should be destroyed in a dignified way.

• The National Flag of Canada should be treated with respect.

• The dimensions/proportions of the National Flag of Canada have an exact ratio of 2 to 1 (twice as long as it is wide), and must not be modified.

• The National Flag of Canada should not be written on or marked in any way, nor be covered by other objects.

• Nothing should be pinned or sewn on the National Flag of Canada.

• The National Flag of Canada should never be dipped or lowered to the ground as a means of paying a salute or compliment to any person or thing.

Disposal of the National Flag of Canada

A flag is considered to be worn when the colour has faded, it has developed a hole or the outermost seam (fly) of the flag has become frayed. When a flag becomes tattered and is no longer in a suitable condition for use, it should be disposed of in a dignified manner.

The disposal of a flag may be handled in the following manner:

• Flags made of natural fibres (wool, cotton, linen) should be burned in a dignified manner, privately, without ceremony or public attention being drawn to the destruction of the material.
• Flags made of synthetic material (nylon or polyester) should not be burned due to environmental damage and potential fire hazard. They should be respectfully torn into strips, with each element of the flag reduced to a single colour, so that the remaining pieces do not resemble a flag. The individual pieces should then be placed in a bag for disposal -- the shreds of fabric should not be reused or fashioned into anything.

Beechwood Cemetery, the National Cemetery of Canada, operates a program to respectfully retire national and provincial flags, consistent with the National Flag of Canada etiquette.

The government website has a pdf file with the proposed flags for Canada.

Canadian Links (Originally collected for my Canadian Culture ezine).

• Wildflower Society of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Nova Scotia Wild Flora Society
• Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan
• Native Plant Society of British Columbia
• Flora Quebec
• Alberta Native Plant Council
• North American Native Plant Society

People I've bought coffee for on ko-fi.

Noah Nowhere - Exploring old and abandoned places, somewhere in Ontario. Also on Instagram.

Shandi with the site: Small Town Canada - She was off to a great start but hasn't posted in awhile. See also Instagram and her YouTube account.

Canada's Magic

Robyn Lacy - historical archaeologist with a PhD, focused on burial grounds, historic landscapes, and built heritage. Spade and the Grave.

"Canadian Homestead Life" series of postcards. Published by the Valentine Postcard Co, 1908/ 1909 to promote the homesteading life in Canada.

I have seen red trilliums growing wild and I've had some growing in the garden. They need shade and they need mulch over winter - as if they were growing on the floor of a forest, which is where they grow naturally. I never noticed a smell from them, not nice or stinky.

Cottage Life - Five Canadian Plants that Stink

1. Eastern skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus); Western skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanum)
2. Red trillium (Trillium erectrum)
3. Kamchatka lily (Fritillaria camschatcensis)
4. Pawpaw (Asimina tribola)
5. Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla)

Do you identify as a particular culture, by ethnic or religious group? My Great Aunt was from Ireland. She said all Canadians are Heinz 57 - mutts. I agree. I am just Canadian - keeps it simple.

J.J. McCullough (YouTube) - Ethnic groups ONLY found in Canada

People who want to sort themselves into smaller and smaller groups (especially those claiming benefits for this reason)  should need  blood/DNA tests to make sure they actually are. Did you know Indigenous people can not just identify as Indigenous, native Canadian, Inuit, etc? They have to provide proof.

Yes, people can say whatever they want, but to have status you have to prove it. Having status is not fluff, it matters, and its not something you can get on a whim.

Other culture and ethnic based groups are based on politics or a religion, like the Mennonite Church Canada. Identifying as a Mennonite is not enough - people are actually part of that community and religion, not just identifying as such. Read more about the Canadian Mennonites

What do you think?

Canadian Links

Gurdeep Pandher - Yukon-based, Bhangra artist and educator. Best known for his dance -  bringing joy, hope and positivity during the pandemic. (Social media link).

CBC - This version of O Canada changed Michael Bublé's life - O Canada performed by the late Richard Loney.

ReOntario - Vintage Ontario television. See the video posts on YouTube.

Exploring Ontario's Past (Facebook)

Muddy York Toronto History

Hosted by Grayson Miller and Adam Waiser, Muddy York digs into the strange, forgotten, and quietly unhinged stories that shaped the city we think we know. From lost landmarks and civic scandals to cultural flashpoints, urban myths, and the people who fought (and sometimes failed) to make Toronto what it is today, this is local history with personality.

Above the Rock - Aerial drone views of Newfoundland & Labrador.

Vancouver is Awesome

Northern Scavenger - A platform to share stories from our backcountry and coastal adventures in Canada’s wild places. With our content we hope to provide practical information, promote sustainable use of our backcountry, and entertain along the way.

Historic Saskatchewan (Facebook)

Homesteading in Canada

Canadian Homesteaders

Why Canada Is So Weirdly Polite | Jim Gaffigan | Stand-Up Comedy