Dignitaries outside the Lethbridge Legion to celebrate National Flag of Canada Day on Tuesday, Feb. 15 2022. (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

Lethbridge Legion celebrates National Flag of Canada Day

Feb 15, 2022 | 12:41 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – February 15 marks the National Flag of Canada Day.

On February 15, 1965, the Canadian flag was raised for the first time on Parliament Hill. In 1996, February 15 was declared as the National Flag of Canada Day.

The Lethbridge Legion General Stewart Branch No. 4 acknowledged the occasion on Tuesday with a ceremony, which included a traditional prayer from the Blood Tribe as well as a song.

Members of the RCMP Veterans’ Association lowered the old Canadian flag outside the legion and installed and raised a new one.

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Ken Taylor, president of the Lethbridge division of the RCMP Veterans’ Association said it was very important to him and RCMP members to attend the ceremony.

He said that, “the RCMP had the privilege of raising the first Canadian flag, the new maple leaf, in Ottawa and as a result, we like to carry on the tradition.”

Taylor believes it’s still important to recognize the flag on this day every year because of tradition and respect, “not only for the flag itself but for the country it represents.”

Paul Brundige, president of the Lethbridge Legion said, “it’s a privilege for me to host this year’s ceremony with community dignitaries in sharing the pride we have in our national flag.”

Paul Brundige speaking at the ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 15 2022 (Lethbridge News Now)

He added that he’s been around the world with the Canadian flag, carrying it with immense pride.

“It’s a symbol of strength, it’s a symbol of freedom, it’s a symbol of democracy.”

Brundige hopes that future generations can learn more about the country’s history, and the history of symbols like the flag.

“I don’t know if I want to call it a generational gap, but we’re losing that and we’re not teaching our young people this type of knowledge that should be passed on so that they can carry on with these traditions.”

Glenn Miller with the Lethbridge Legion said, “the Canadian flag is actually one of our symbols just as much as the poppy is.”

“The flag unites a lot of people. You look at the Olympics going on, the Canadian flag speaks volume just by the presence in itself without saying anything.”

The new Canadian flag outside the Lethbridge Legion on Tuesday, Feb. 15 2022 (Lethbridge News Now)

Miller said the Canadian flag has a local connection as well, noting that General Stewart – the namesake of the Lethbridge Legion – was “actually at the ceremony in 1965 [raising of the Canadian flag] here in Lethbridge and he was one of the signatures who signed the flag after as a participant.”

He added that Senator Joyce Fairbairn [namesake for Sen. Joyce Fairbairn Middle School in Lethbridge] “was a young journalist and she had broken the story, [on] which of the two flags was selected on behalf of Canada.”

More information about the national flag is available here.