Flag February
This month, we are taking a look at some of the flags in our collection!
Many different types of flags have been flown over Muskoka with some eventually being donated to the Museum. Displaying our flags can be risky, as many are old and very fragile. So we are sharing some of our favourite flags in our digital exhibition spaces.
Curator: August Stein
Royal Union Flag (Union Jack)
The Royal Union Flag, the official flag of the United Kingdom, was Canada’s official flag until the adoption of our current National Flag in 1965. This particular Union Jack was used in Muskoka prior to the 1970s.
Today, the Union Jack is flown in Canada only as the national flag of the United Kingdom, as a symbol of our membership in the Commonwealth, and through its integration into several provincial flag designs.
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Red Ensign
This is an 1870–71 version of the Red Ensign, which incorporates the shields of the first four provinces to enter Confederation in 1867—Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick—and Manitoba, which entered Confederation in 1870.
The official Red Ensign design was not finalized until 1922. This particular design shares some important distinctions from others. The provincial shields are in a different order, and there is a wreath of maple and oak surrounding the provincial crests.
While the Red Ensign was widely used throughout Canada from Confederation until 1965, it was never formally adopted as Canada’s national flag.
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Centennial Flag
To mark the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation, a special Centennial symbol was created and proudly displayed on flags flown across the country, including right here at the Muskoka Lakes Museum.
Almost 60 years later, this emblem remains a lasting marker of Canadian history. The Port Carling Museum (our founding name) officially opened in 1964, just prior to the 1967 Centennial celebrations. This made the Centennial a significant milestone in our institution’s own story. It was also an important moment for museums across Canada, many of which were created or updated during this period to reflect and celebrate the country’s history.
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MLA Flags
Founded in 1894, the Muskoka Lakes Association (MLA) has a long history in the Muskoka Lakes region. For more than a century, the MLA has championed the Muskoka Lakes community, advocating for local concerns at all levels of government and bringing people together through summer traditions like its Regattas.
We are fortunate to hold several of their historical flags in our collection, including two from 1938 and 1939.
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