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The Maple Tree
Although the maple leaf itself has always been recognized as a Canadian symbol the maple tree was never really associated or thought of as an emblem of Canada. Many Canadians employed in the forestry sector were extremely pleased when the maple tree became officially recognized as Canada's arboreal emblem. This event occurred on April 25, 1996 and was published in the Canada Gazette on May 15, 1996.
Due to the vast amount of forests in Canada, trees have always had a significant role in our development through out history. They still continue to be of immense commercial, environmental and aesthetic importance to all Canadians. The maple tree is valued for its' wood products due to the varies in hardness, toughness and other properties. It has always been in demand for flooring; furniture and interior woodwork, which has aided many industries in eastern Canada to flourish and become, recognized world-wide. Canada also has a thriving maple sugar industry, which produces a wide variety of maple products for export.
It is the generic maple species that is proclaimed as Canada's arboreal emblem. There are 150 know species of maple (genus Acer), with only 13 being native to North America. Of these 13, ten grow in Canada: Sugar, Black, Silver, bigleaf, Red, Mountain, Striped, Douglas, Vine and the Manitoba. The native maples are all large trees with the exception of four species. Every province in Canada can boast that they have at least one of the ten species growing naturally.
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The Maple Leaf |
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Canada's aboriginal people were the first to discover the wonders of the maple sap long before the first European settlers arrived. According to many historians the maple leaf first became a Canadian symbol in the 1700s. The first St. Jean Baptiste Society made the maple leaf its emblem in 1834. Le Canadien, a newspaper published in Lower Canada referred to the maple leaf as a suitable emblem for Canada in 1836. The Maple Leaf, a Toronto literary annual referred to it as the chosen emblem of Canada in 1848. The maple leaf became the badge of the 100th Regiment (Royal Canadians) by the 1860.
Alexander Muir wrote Canada's confederation song "The Maple Leaf Forever" in 1867. This was considered the national song of Canada for several decades. The following year 1868, both Ontario and Quebec included the maple leaf when creating their coat of arms.
Canada has always used symbols that signified Canadian pride on their coins. The maple leaf appeared on all coins made in Canada from 1876 to 1901. Even today the penny still carries the maple leaf emblem although it has been changed from the original one used. Today the penny has two maple leaves on a common twig, which has been in use since 1937.
The maple leaf was included in the badge of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. The Royal Arms of Canada have included three maple leaves as a unique Canadian emblem since 1921. During the Second World War many Canadian troops used the maple leaf as a distinctive sign. It was displayed on regimental badges as well as Canadian army and naval equipment. The colour of the maple leaves on the arms of Canada was changed from green to red in 1957, red being one of Canada's official colours.
On February 15, 1965, our new flag was inaugurated as the National Flag of Canada. This new flag consisted of a red border on either side of a red maple leaf. Since then the maple leaf has become the most recognized Canadian symbol.
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