Saturday February 15, 2025 | NATIONAL NEWS [posted from VICTORIA, BC]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
King Charles III has today issued a letter to Canada and Canadians on this 60th Flag Day.
The red and white maple leaf flag of Canada was first flown on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on February 15, 1965.
“Since that time it has become internationally recognised as a symbol of a proud, resilient and compassionate country,” writes King Charles.
Based on his visits to Canada, he says: “It is a symbol that never fails to elicit a sense of pride and admiration.”
King Charles III is Canada’s head of state. He became Heir to the Throne at the age of three when his mother became Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022 and the Coronation of Charles as Charles III was held on May 6, 2023.
Posted in social media:
The letter was posted in social media around 7 am Pacific Time today. By 8 am the letter had received over 88,000 views.
Political significance:
Until now, the head of the Commonwealth has remained silent as taunts by US President Donald Trump have been hurled against Canada’s sovereignty.
The aggressive stance by the US president toward Canada has shocked many nations around the world but most have remained silent.
There have also been no public statements by other Commonwealth countries such as Australia and New Zealand. But the President of the European Commission, Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen, this week did say that trust is important between allies, in the wake of Trump also beginning to make threats against Europe.
Today, Trudeau said in a statement: “The maple leaf has stood centre-stage throughout Canadian history.”
Canadians themselves, meanwhile, have collectively risen up rather spontaneously to push back against this existential threat to Canada as sovereign nation. A buy-Canadian movement seems to start overnight and today Canadians are encouraged to attend Flag Day ceremonies.
Flag Day recap:
National Flag Day in Canada was instituted in 1996 by Governor General Roméo LeBlanc on the initiative of then Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.
In 2010, on the 45th anniversary of Flag Canada), federal ceremonies were held to mark Flag Day at Ottawa, Winnipeg, St. John’s, and at Whistler and Vancouver in conjunction with the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
In 2011 then Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced as inaugurating an annual recognition of patriotism.
Over the past week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been in Europe representing Canada at various global conferences and summits, including one on artificial intelligence while also shoring up support for Canada in Europe. Meanwhile all of Canada’s premiers undertook a trip to Washington DC on February 12 to address trade concerns with US officials.
For this year’s Flag Day five former prime ministers: Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin and Stephen Harper, wrote an open letter calling on all Canadians to fly the flag as a sign of national unity as trade tensions escalate between the USA and Canada.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh issued a Flag Day statement today including: “Canadian unity has never been more important. We will not let Donald Trump, or anyone else, threaten our values, our economy and our flag. We are Canadian, and we’ll stay strong and free.”
Canada Day is on July 1. In 2025, it will be Canada’s 158th birthday.
===== RELATED:
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- King Charles III Coronation Medals to 18 recipients in Victoria (September 11, 2024)
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