Canada may be famous for its maple syrup, love of hockey, and the CN Tower, but its most recognized symbol continues to be the maple leaf.
The maple leaf became the official symbol of Canada in 1965 when the iconic red and white flag was raised for the first time, but it served as the unofficial symbol of the Great White North for more than a century prior to that event.
The flag’s design—the maple leaf set against a white background bordered by two red edges—received unanimous approval from a parliamentary committee in 1964, according to a Canadian Senate history of the flag….