Before 1965, Canada mostly used the Canadian Red Ensign , a red flag with the British Union Jack in the top-left corner and a Canadian shield on the right half.

What it Looked Like

  • Red background (a “red ensign” style).
  • Union Jack (UK flag) in the upper hoist (top-left) corner, showing Canada’s ties to Britain.
  • On the right side of the flag (the “fly”), a shield or coat of arms representing Canada, which evolved over time.

In effect, it looked like a British naval red ensign with Canadian symbols added to the outer half of the flag.

Was it Official?

  • For many years, the Union Jack itself was considered the official national flag, while the Canadian Red Ensign was used widely in practice on government buildings and by Canadians at home and abroad.
  • The Red Ensign versions between the late 19th century and 1965 were unofficial national flags but very commonly used and recognized as Canada’s emblem before the maple leaf.

Variations Over Time

  • Earlier versions included arms or symbols of the individual provinces in the shield.
  • Later versions featured the full Canadian coat of arms as it was updated, but all kept the Union Jack in the corner and a red field.

Why It Changed in 1965

  • By the 1960s, many Canadians wanted a distinct flag no longer centered on British imperial symbols.
  • After the “Great Flag Debate,” the single red maple leaf on a white square with red bars was adopted and first raised on February 15, 1965, replacing the Red Ensign as the national flag.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.