Owen Sound Celebrates the Canadian Flag’s 60th Anniversary

This Saturday, February 15, marks the 60th anniversary of our cherished national flag. Raised for the first time in 1965, this emblem uniquely symbolizes our national identity and is recognized globally for the values it represents: generosity, openness, respect, and equality. Our vibrant red and white flag adorned with a maple leaf connects us to our shared Canadian pride and serves as a constant reminder of the home we all share.

This year, the anniversary of our flag takes on even greater significance. Not only should we celebrate the flag itself, but we must also reflect on the deeper values it embodies: our resilience and our sovereignty. Recent external economic pressures have sparked a surge in public displays of national pride, illustrating a growing sense of unity and a strong national identity among Canadians.

Join us in celebrating by raising the Canadian flag on the Community Flag Pole at City Hall on Friday, February 14, at 4 p.m. Stop by this weekend or next week to snap a selfie with the flag and show your Canadian pride while supporting local businesses in the River District and the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market. Don’t forget to share your photos on social media!

For more information, please contact Tim Simmonds, City Manager, at 519-376-4440 ext. 1210 or email tsimmonds@owensound.ca

Quote:
"Let us come together, celebrate, and appreciate the rich heritage that our national flag symbolizes. Join us in marking six decades of a flag that continues to lead us in unity.” – Mayor Ian Boddy

Quick Facts:
The new maple leaf flag was made official by a proclamation from Queen Elizabeth II on January 28, 1965
On February 15, 1965, the flag was inaugurated in a public ceremony on Parliament Hill.