<Tr> <Th> Adopted </Th> <Td> May 5, 2013 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Design </Th> <Td> White field, in the canton the National Flag of Canada, in the fly an eagle superimposed on an anchor beneath a naval crown, all blue . </Td> </Tr> <P> The flag of Canada, often referred to as the Canadian flag, or unofficially as the Maple Leaf and l'Unifolié (French for "the one - leafed"), is a national flag consisting of a red field with a white square at its centre in the ratio of 1: 2: 1, in the middle of which is featured a stylized, red, 11 - pointed maple leaf charged in the centre . It is the first specified by law for use as the country's national flag . </P> <P> In 1964, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson formed a committee to resolve the ongoing issue of the lack of an official Canadian flag, sparking a serious debate about a flag change to replace the Union Flag . Out of three choices, the maple leaf design by George Stanley, based on the flag of the Royal Military College of Canada, was selected . The flag made its first official appearance on February 15, 1965; the date is now celebrated annually as National Flag of Canada Day . </P>

Which flag is canada's official royal flag