O Canada! Museum Windsor displaying original 1965 maple leaf on Flag Day

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Canada’s maple leaf flag is 60 years old, and Windsor is celebrating the anniversary by showing off one of the few originals.

One of six historic maple leaf flags to soar over Parliament Hill on Feb. 15, 1965, the day Canada left the British Union Jack behind to carve out its own national identity, is on display for eight hours Saturday at Museum Windsor, which is offering free admission.

Flag Day arrives at a moment of heightened Canadian patriotism, with a rallying cry from five former prime ministers to proudly fly the maple leaf in defiance of U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to Canada’s economy and sovereignty.

“It’s special to think that it’s only been 60 years that we’ve had this identity,” said Criag Capacchione, museum coordinator at Museum Windsor.

“Today, when you see the Canadian flag, it brings pride. It’s important to honour the anniversary of the creation of our own flag, and the nationalism that comes along with that day.”

After months of warning of 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian goods, Trump has imposed tariffs on aluminum and steel while also suggesting Canada should become the 51st state — threats that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called serious.

Canada is worth celebrating and fighting for

In a recent joint letter, signed by all of Canada’s living former prime ministers — Stephen Harper, Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, and Paul Martin — the leaders urge Canadians to fly the maple leaf on Flag Day as a show of unity as tensions rise with our American neighbour.

“We call on our fellow Canadians to show the flag as never before,” Canada’s former prime ministers wrote.

“The five of us come from different parties. We’ve had our share of battles in the past. But we all agree on one thing: Canada, the truth north, strong and free, the best country in the world, is worth celebrating and fighting for.”

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also released a video asking Canadians to raise the flag to demonstrate Canadian pride.

The recent tensions with Canada’s closest neighbour and trading partner have led many Canadians to rethink how they spend their dollars, some choosing to cancel trips to the U.S. and boycott American products.

As Canada navigates today’s challenges, it’s a fitting moment to revisit the history of the maple leaf, which has long defined the country’s identity.

“A lot of people don’t realize how young our flag actually is,” said Capacchione.

“If you think about it, it’s only Canada’s 60th anniversary of having our own flag. So, previous to that, we were using the British Union Jack as our nation’s flag, even though we were an independent nation outside of Great Britain and outside of England.“

Six decades ago, the new maple leaf flag was hoisted above Parliament Hill for the first time, replacing the British Red Ensign that had represented Canada for nearly a century.

Parliament was initially divided on the design, some pushing to keep the Union Jack, but the maple leaf ultimately won, marking a new era of Canadian identity. The red-and-white design has since become an instantly recognizable symbol for this country around the world.

On that historic day in 1965, six of the newly adopted flags were raised, each flown for about an hour before being lowered and entrusted to the captain of the Queen’s Honour Guard.

One of those original flags was gifted to Captain Don Wellman, who brought it back to his home in London, Ont., where it remained tucked away for 35 years.

When Wellman retired, he gifted the flag to Jim Sweetman, who donated it to Museum Windsor in 2003. 

The historic flag was last displayed in Windsor a decade ago at the François Baby House in 2015, and will be available for public viewing for eight hours on Saturday.

“This showcases part of the collection that we don’t normally see here at Museum Windsor,” Capacchione.

“We’ve got thousands of artifacts that may not be on display often or ever, depending on the size and the condition. 

“It’s special to be able to pull out an artifact like this from behind the vault for this occasion and showcase it to the community and educate a little bit about the flag, the age of the flag, and the history of having our own flag in Canada.”

The historic flag is available for public viewing at Museum Windsor (401 Riverside Drive W.) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15. Admission is free.

Visitors can also explore other exhibits, including the history of Emancipation Day celebrations in the Windsor region, a quilt illustrating the Black Canadian experience, and Canada’s hockey heritage.

mmazak@postmedia.com