The following is a list of flags proposed for the Canadian state.This list focuses mainly on flag proposals appearing in contemporary print media. For more submissions to Parliamentary Flag committees by the public, see List of national flag proposals#Canada. See also FOTW.info
Flag Date Use Description 1895 Sir Donald A. Smith's proposal A British colonial Red Ensign with green maple leaf in lower fly. Sir Sanford Fleming's proposal A British colonial Red Ensign with a seven-pointed white star in the lower fly that represents the North Star as emblem of Canada its rays symbolizing its then seven provinces. H. Spencer Howell of the Canadian Club of Hamilton, Ontario's proposal A British colonial Red Ensign with green maple leaf on white disc in lower fly. George S. Hodgins's proposal A British colonial Red Ensign with green maple leaf on an eared-top shield with pointed base in the fly. ~1895 G. E. Dawson's proposal A British Red Ensign featuring a green maple leaf on a white diamond (lozenge) in the fly. Barlow Cumberland advocated an identical design in their The Story of the Union Jack (1897), but did not credit Dawson. Cumberland stated the diamond is to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria and to distinguish the flag among other British colonial ensigns. 1896 E. M. Chadwick's proposals A British Blue Ensign with three conjoined maple leaves in gold as emblem on the fly. A British Red Ensign with three conjoined maple leaves in gold as badge on the fly. A British Blue Ensign with three conjoined maple leaves in red on a white disc as badge on the fly. A British Red Ensign with three conjoined maple leaves in green on a white disc as badge on the fly.1902Design reported in the Daily Express to have been proposed as part of a series of Empire flags that would replace the Union Jack in representing individual territories of the British EmpireThe Cross of Saint George and the crown in the canton would have been present on all Empire flags to represent the English. In the top right would be the emblem of the territory flying the flag, and in this case, the coat of arms of Canada. A large sun in the centre symbolizes "the empire on which the sun never sets." 1909 Col. C. F. Hamilton's proposal A British ensign with plain white field and Union Jack canton. Proposed by Col. C. F. Hamilton, a journalist and intelligence officer, in 1909. The white field was intended to make the flag distinctive among British ensigns, recognizable at a distance, to evoke Canada's natural geography, and to recognize the French contribution to the nation. 1916-21 Manitoba Free Press Proposal Design inspired by the Australian flag. A British ensign with a white field and eight blue stars placed upon the field—seven smaller stars arranged in the form of the Big Dipper/Great Bear and one larger representing the North Star. ~1921 J. S. Ewart's Proposal A Union Jack defaced by a white shield charged with a red maple leaf. Design attributed to J. S. Ewart by the Star Weekly of 2 July 1921, and described as "put forward some years ago". 1921 Edwin J. Cox's Proposal On a white field, large maple leaf filled in by design of the British Union Jack, or a Union Jack clipped by the outline of a maple leaf. Submitted by Cox to the Manitoba Free Press. 1920s Minnie H. Bowen's Proposal Design featuring the white cross of France on a red field with Union Jack in canton, submitted to PM Mackenzie King's 1925 flag committee. A similar redesign of the red and blue ensigns of Canada was considered by PM Sir Robert Borden's 1919 arms committee. 1925 Archer Fortescue Duguid's Proposal Proposed by Archer Fortescue Duguid as a "Canadian National Flag for Use Ashore" in June 1925. In 1939, the design was adopted as the headquarters flag of the 1st Division of the Canadian Army on the eve of their departure for Europe to serve in the Second World War. It served as the de facto, provisional flag of the Army until officially replaced by the Canadian Red Ensign in 1944. Duguid re-proposed the design as national flag in 1939 at the time it was adopted as the flag of the 1st Canadian Division and, despite the fact that it did not find favor with the troops, again in 1945. William S. Simpson's Proposal