Black-blue lakes, numerous rivers, majestic western mountains, rolling central plains, and forested eastern valleys

The national anthem

“O Canada” was proclaimed Canada’s national anthem on July 1, 1980, one century after it was first sung in the City of Québec on June 24, 1880.
The music was composed by Calixa Lavallée, a well-known composer born in Verchères, Canada East^Footnote4. French lyrics to accompany the music were written by Adolphe-Basile Routhier, a poet and judge born in Saint-Placide, Lower Canada. Many English versions have appeared over the years. The version on which the official English lyrics are based was written in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir, a poet born in Hamilton, Ontario.
Read the full history of “O Canada” and learn about the lives of the people behind the anthem.

The national flag

With its distinctive maple leaf, Canada’s red and white flag is easily recognized around the globe.
The adoption of the national flag in 1965 was the result of many years of discussion, thousands of designs and a heated debate in Parliament. The search for a new Canadian flag began in 1925, when a committee of the Privy Council began to look into potential designs. In 1946, a parliamentary committee examined more than 2,600 submissions – but members could not agree on a new design. As the Centennial of Confederation approached, Parliament increased its efforts to choose a new flag.
On February 15, 1965, the National Flag of Canada was raised for the first time over Parliament Hill. The red-white-red pattern is based on the flag of the Royal Military College of Canada and the ribbon of the Canada General Service Medal of 1899, a British decoration given to those who defended Canada in 19th-century battles. The leaf has 11 points, and the flag’s proportions are two by length and one by width.
The anniversary of our flag’s adoption is observed across the country on February 15, which is known as National Flag of Canada Day.
Learn more about the National Flag of Canada, including its history and dimensions, flag etiquette and rules for half-masting.