Editing Flag of Canada (section)

===Adoption===
[[File:The Parliament of Canada (41122504821).jpg|thumb|The Canadian flag flying atop the [[Peace Tower]]. An official ceremony inaugurating the flag was held on Parliament Hill in 1965.]]

The new national flag was inaugurated on February 15, 1965, at an official ceremony held on [[Parliament Hill]] in Ottawa, in the presence of [[Governor General of Canada|Governor General]] Major-General [[Georges Vanier]], the Prime Minister, other members of the Cabinet, and Canadian parliamentarians. The Red Ensign was lowered at the stroke of noon, and the new maple leaf flag was raised. The crowd sang "[[O Canada]]" followed by "[[God Save the Queen]]".<ref name=flagfest>{{cite web|url=http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/symbl/df1-eng.cfm|title=The National Flag of Canada; A symbol of Canadian Identity|publisher=[[Department of Canadian Heritage]]|access-date=February 15, 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415070739/http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/symbl/df1-eng.cfm|archive-date=April 15, 2012}}</ref> Of the flag, Vanier said "[it] will symbolize to each of us—and to the world—the unity of purpose and high resolve to which destiny beckons us".<ref name=Flap>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-s-flag-debate-flaps-on-50-years-later-1.2957192| last=Milewiski| first=Terry| title=Canada's flag debate flaps on, 50 years later| date=February 15, 2015| publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]| access-date=February 15, 2015| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215135050/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-s-flag-debate-flaps-on-50-years-later-1.2957192| archive-date=February 15, 2015| df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Maurice Bourget]], Speaker of the Senate, said: "The flag is the symbol of the nation's unity, for it, beyond any doubt, represents all the citizens of Canada without distinction of race, language, belief, or opinion."<ref name=flagfest /> Yet there was still opposition to the change, and Stanley's life was even threatened for having "assassinated the flag". Despite this, Stanley attended the flag-raising ceremony.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTMdH9-kmDk&t=3m40s|title=The real story behind the Canadian Flag|work=The National|date=February 16, 2015|via=YouTube|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331191605/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTMdH9-kmDk|archive-date=March 31, 2016}}</ref>

At the time of the 50th anniversary of the flag in 2015, the government—held by the [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative Party]]—was criticized for the lack of an official ceremony dedicated to the date; accusations of partisanship were levelled.<ref name=Flap /> [[Minister of Canadian Heritage]] [[Shelly Glover]] denied the charges, and others, including Liberal Members of Parliament, pointed to community events taking place around the country.<ref name=Flap /> Governor General [[David Johnston (governor general)|David Johnston]] did, though, preside at an official ceremony at [[Confederation Park]] in [[Ottawa]], integrated with [[Winterlude]]. He said, "[t]he National Flag of Canada is so embedded in our national life and so emblematic of our national purpose that we simply cannot imagine our country without it."<ref name=GG>{{cite web| url=http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=15945&lan=eng| publisher=Office of the Governor General of Canada| title=Governor General to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the National Flag of Canada| date=February 15, 2015| url-status=live| archive-url=https://archive.today/20150216073904/http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=15945&lan=eng| archive-date=February 16, 2015| df=mdy-all}}</ref> Queen Elizabeth II stated: "On this, the 50th anniversary of the National Flag of Canada, I am pleased to join with all Canadians in the celebration of this unique and cherished symbol of our country and identity."<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=15946&lan=eng| publisher=Office of the Governor General of Canada| title=Message from Her Majesty The Queen on the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the National Flag of Canada| date=February 15, 2015| url-status=deviated| archive-url=https://archive.today/20150216073916/http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=15946&lan=eng| archive-date=February 16, 2015| df=mdy-all| access-date=September 9, 2023}}</ref> A commemorative stamp and coin were issued by [[Canada Post]] and the [[Royal Canadian Mint]], respectively.<ref name=GG/>