On February 15, 2015, Canada Patriot’s Mike Buckle co-hosted a Canadian Flag 50th Birthday Party at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 133 in Cobourg, Ontario.  Special Guests included Cobourg Mayor Gil Brocanier, Canadian Senator David P. Smith, MPP Lou Rinaldi Representative Travis Hooper, and Conservative Party Candidate for Northumberland-Peterborough South Adam Moulton.

The event began with co-organizer and Branch 133 President Josephine Upton welcoming the partygoers and setting the stage for the afternoon’s celebration.

She introduced Canada Patriot’s Mike Buckle who expressed his enthusiasm for the day’s event and thanked Cobourg Downtown Business Improvement Area’s Andrew Hall for the town’s successful Canadian Flag flying promotion throughout the downtown area.

Mike then introduced the day’s Special Guest Speakers, beginning with Conservative Party Candidate for Northumberland-Peterborough South Adam Moulton.

Adam gave a brief history of the flag, before presenting a new one to Branch 133 President Upton on behalf of the Government of Canada.

Travis Hooper, representative for Ontario MPP Lou Rinaldi, followed with a brief history of the maple and its historic importance as a symbol of Canada.

He then presented a new Ontario flag to Legion Branch 133 to mark the occasion.

The next speaker was Cobourg Mayor Gil Brocanier who told a story about distinguished Cobourg native Francis Patrick Duffy, who served as chaplain for American forces during the First World and became the most highly decorated cleric in the history of U.S. Army.

Mayor Brocanier then presented a Cobourg Flag to Branch 133 President Upton.

The event’s final speaker was Canadian Senator for Cobourg David P. Smith, who shared his experience of being on Parliament Hill in 1965 as the National Director of the Young Liberals when the Canadian Flag was inaugurated as the country’s national flag.

He then expressed how proud he is of Canada and the Canadian Flag when he travels abroad and represents the country around the world.

Branch President Upton closed the official ceremony by introducing the Cobourg Legion Pipe and Drum Band which paraded through the Legion hall.

That’s when the real partying began!

To view the official 50th Anniversary ceremony and hear the Cobourg Legion Pipe and Drum Band, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz_N85NtCkY

… And be sure to fly the Canadian Flag during its 5oth year!

On Sunday, March 16, 2014 Canada Patriot Executive Director Mike Buckle and Marketing Director Paul Wylezol  attended the Royal Canadian Legion Zone F-2 Spring Conference in Bewdley, Ontario.

They were invited by F-2 Commander Don Ramsay to speak about Canada Patriot’s mission to promote Canadian heritage and patriotism through the Canadian Flag.

Mike and Paul told the assembled Ontario Zone F-2 branch presidents and executive committees about the new Patriot Partnership with Legion Branch 30 in Port Hope, and encouraged other branches to join the partnership.

They also discussed the Raise Your Flag initiative in Port Hope, which is supported by the local town council.  It will encourage local residents and merchants to fly the Canadian flag above their homes and businesses.  Like the Patriot Partnership, it is hoped the initiative will spread across Ontario and the country, beginning this 50th year of the Canadian Flag and 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War One.

Mike and Paul finished their address to the Legion F-2 Spring Conference by presenting the zone with an antique book printed in 1915 about the first year of World War One.

Canada Patriot’s Mike Buckle Presents WW1 book to F-2 Commander Don Ramsay

On Saturday, February 15 – National Flag of Canada Day – Canada Patriot and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 30 in Port Hope, Ontario launched a Patriot Partnership to promote Canadian heritage and patriotism. 

(Left to Right) Mike Buckle, Executive Director of Canada Patriot, Jeff Gilmer, Deputy Mayor of Port Hope, Al Wilson, President of Branch 30, and Don Ramsay, Commander of Ontario Zone F-2, Royal Canadian Legion

The event took place at Branch 30 and was attended by a patriotic group of Royal Canadian Legion members and area residents.

During the event, Port Hope Deputy Mayor Jeff Gilmer announced a community “Raise your Flag” initiative to encourage Port Hope residents and businesses to display their patriotism by flying the Canadian Flag.  

Stopping by Branch 30 to mark the occasion was Pete Fisher, well-known Canadian patriot and journalist, who is author of the book “Highway of Heroes”.

(Left to Right) Pete Fisher, author of “Highway of Heroes”, Al Wilson, President of Branch 30, and Mike Buckle, Executive Director of Canada Patriot

As a reminder to all Canadian residents and businesses, “Raise your Flag” this year in preparation for National Flag of Canada Day 2015, which will mark the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Flag!

The Father of the Canadian Flag passed away in Kingston, Ontario on December 27, 2013 at the age of 96. Under the direction of Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, John Matheson, then an MP in the Ontario riding of Leeds, was a member of the committee that helped bring a new flag to Canada.  Matheson is credited for establishing the concept and symbolism for the flag and as an ardent supporter of the eventual design.

The timing could not have been worse when, in 1964, then prime minister Lester B. Pearson convened a committee tasked with designing a new Canadian flag.

The forces of Western Alienation, Quebec Separatism and aboriginal nationalism, among others, were just beginning to kick into high gear, and the divided committee was soon overwhelmed with designs of monstrous compromise: Hideous mish-mashes of fleur-de-lys, Union Jacks, crowns, beavers and wheat.

The seemingly innocuous task had become, in the unironic words of one CBC anchor, “the most emotion-packed issue of our time.”

Despite it all, one man, a young lawyer once left for dead on an Italian battlefield, was able to conjure a design of such simplicity and elegance that the country has never looked back.

On Friday, that man, John Matheson, died at the age of 96 in Kingston, Ont.

Source: National Post