Brockville in Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Brockville, Birthplace of Canada's Flag
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 10, 2022
1. Brockville, Birthplace of Canada's Flag Marker
This Flag Pole has been erected to commemorate the birthplace of the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag first raised on February 15, 1965.
The culmination of the efforts of many individuals spanning more than 100 years come to fruition when Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson appointed a Parliamentary Flag Committee in 1965 to research and recommend a unifying design of a National Flag for Canada. The individual most responsible for nurturing the process of this Committee and subsequent Parliamentary workings was John Ross Matheson, Member of Parliament for Leeds and citizen of Brockville. Mr. Matheson is often referred to as the "Father of Our Flag". Mr. Matheson spent many hours researching and working on the flag project from his home on North Augusta Road, as well as his office on Parliament Hill.
The "50 Years of Our Flag" Committee on behalf of all Canadians, offers our sincere thanks to Mr. Mitchell Goldhar & SmartCentres for their generous contribution in helping to pay tribute to:
Erected by "50 Years of Our Flag" Committee.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Government & Politics • Patriots & Patriotism. In addition, it is included in the Vexillology series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 15, 1965.
Location. 44° 36.821′ N, 75° 41.165′ W. Marker is in Brockville, Ontario, in Leeds and Grenville
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Ontario and specifically in Southeastern Ontario. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Steven Delbert Ring (approx. 1.9 kilometers away); Millennium Sculpture (approx. 2 kilometers away); Senator George T. Fulford (approx. 2.1 kilometers away); Fulford Place (approx. 2.2 kilometers away); Charles E. Jones House (approx. 2.2 kilometers away); Indian Cliff (approx. 2.2 kilometers away); Samuel Reynolds House (approx. 2.2 kilometers away); Thomas Hume House (approx. 2.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brockville.
Also see . . .
1. The history of the National Flag of Canada. (Submitted on March 18, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. John Ross Matheson (1917–2013) Obituary. (Submitted on April 7, 2026.)
3. Letter to the editor: Brockville's erroneous claims about Canadian flag.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 10, 2022
2. The Canadian Flag
This marker is at the base of this flag, which can be found in the Walmart parking lot in Brockville.
4. Historian says Brockville's claim as birthplace of modern Canadian flag is incorrect. 2014 article by Ian MacAlpine in The Kingston Whig Standard. (Submitted on April 7, 2026.)
5. Blackwell & Beddoe Lawrence: The maple leaf has symbolized Canada for 50 years, but its origins are. 2014 article by John Blackwell and Margaret Beddoe Lawrence in the National Post. Historian and academic librarian John Blackwell is the director of the research grants office at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S. He is also George Stanley’s son-in-law. Margaret Beddoe Lawrence is a former Canadian foreign service officer and the granddaughter of Alan Beddoe. (Submitted on April 7, 2026.)
6. There is no ‘Father of the Flag’. 2014 article by Ian MacAlpine in The Kingston Whig Standard. (Submitted on April 7, 2026.)
7. Canada’s Flag: A Search for a Country. 1986 book by John Ross Matheson published by Mika Publishing Co., Belleville, Ontario. This link is to a copy on the Internet Archive. (Submitted on April 7, 2026.)
Additional commentary.
1. This Historical Marker is Inaccurate and Misleading
For many years, Bob Harper (founder of the so-called “Canadian Flag Education Centre”) of Brockville, Ontario, has been promoting his false version of the Canadian Flag’s history. He
Source: House of Commons (Fair Use)
3. John Ross Matheson (1917–—2013)
Member of Parliament for Leeds, 1961–1968. Colonel (Retired), Royal Canadian Horse Artillery.
Most outlandish among Harper’s claims is that Brockville is the “Birthplace of Canada’s Flag”. Harper convinced the city of Brockville to put up large road signs proclaiming their community as the birthplace of the Canadian Flag; however, after this claim was refuted by the historical evidence, the city quietly took down the signs, having been deeply embarrassed as a community.
Furthermore, the federal Department of Canadian Heritage’s official online history of the Canadian Flag does not include any reference to Brockville. —Link available at Also See link No. 1 above.
Harper also invented the notion that the late John Matheson was the “Father of Our Flag”. This suggestion runs counter to Matheson’s long-time assertion that the Canadian Flag was the work of “many loving hands”. John Matheson’s sons have also rejected the “Father of Our Flag” concept. And Matheson’s obituary states simply: “During his political career, John was a leading member of the parliamentary committee, which successfully shepherded the adoption of the Canadian (Maple Leaf) flag by parliament in 1965.” —His obituary is at Also See link No. 2 above.
The following newspaper articles provide an overview of these two issues:
Letter to the editor: Brockville's erroneous claims about Canadian flag | The Kingston Whig Standard —Link at Also See No. 3The story of the Canadian Flag’s history has been meticulously documented in a number of credible sources for many years, including John Matheson’s own book, Canada's Flag: A Search for a Country. And it should be noted that nowhere in Matheson’s book does he mention doing any work on the flag project in Brockville. As well, in the afterthought of his 267-page book, Matheson unequivocally acknowledges Prime Minister Lester Pearson as the "father" of the Canadian Flag.
Historian says Brockville's claim as birthplace of modern Canadian flag is incorrect | The Kingston Whig Standard —Link at Also See No. 4
Blackwell & Beddoe Lawrence: The maple leaf has symbolized Canada for 50 years, but its origins are still misunderstood | National Post —Link at Also See No. 5
There is no 'Father of the Flag' | The Kingston Whig Standard —Link at Also See No. 6
Fortunately, The Historical Marker Database has a link to the federal Department of Canadian Heritage’s official online history of the Canadian Flag, which is a very reliable resource.
The history of the National Flag of Canada - Canada.ca —Link at Also See No. 1.
— Submitted April 7, 2026.
Additional keywords. vexicology
Credits. This page was last revised on April 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,531 times since then and 182 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 18, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 3. submitted on April 7, 2026, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
