A more than century-old flag recently inducted into the Cochrane Historical Museum is a rare, and possibly unique, connection to Canada’s past. Like many symbols woven into the fabric of Canadian history, it tells a deep a story – one of unification, rebellion and national pride. Mike Taylor, a member of the Cochrane Historical and Archival Preservation Society (CHAPS), was excited to present the restored Red Ensign at the museum on Monday, saying it might be a one-of-kind exhibit. “I have done months of research and I have only found one example of this exact same flag with the maple leafs and the beaver on it in the literature. I have been in touch with people across the country and nobody has found another one exactly the same,” he said. “From what we’ve been able to find out, it’s the only one. It’s either rare, we can definitely say it’s rare, or it’s unique.” The flag arrived last year via Torontonians David and Jane Raymont, who have a historical family connection to Cochrane. They donated the relic in the name of rancher Arthur Scott Lewis who died in the First World War. Since then, CHAPS, with the help of a $4,000 grant from BowRivers Edge Campground, laboured to restore the flag, which they guess went from hanging proudly to being used as a table cloth due to a few grease stains and sugar that was stuck to it when it arrived. The flag was steamed, washed and mended before being placed in a special wooden case and an exceptional type of glass to protect the flag from moisture and UV light. While the possibility of Cochrane’s little museum having an exclusive exhibit is exciting, Taylor is passionate about the story it tells. In 1907, Ottawa flew the Red Ensign as a rebellious act against Britain who still considered the Union Jack Canada’s flag. Taylor said it was a sign of Canada’s early desires for independence from the colonial powers of the British. That act of rebellion preceded the adoption of this nation’s first official flag by decades. Adopting the Maple Leaf in 1965 wasn’t an easy transition either and it also meant older versions of the Canadian flag, such as the museum’s Red Ensign featuring the shields of the nine provinces that were confederation in 1907, the beaver and a ring of maple leafs (a symbol that originated in Quebec) was forgotten. “I emigrated in 1966 just after our flag, the Maple Leaf, was adopted and that debate was still going on. There was so much debate about the flag for 10 years before and 10 years after that when our flag was accepted people said they had enough and they never wanted hear another thing about this. So, all this history was lost,” said Taylor, adding it means younger generations are not aware of the Red Ensign and the important story it tells about the evolution of Canada as a nation. As mentioned, the flag weaves a tale about Canada’s push toward sovereignty, one that began as early as the First World War. “In World War One, Canada insisted on fighting separately from the British and their divisions were separate and the British did not like that,” said Frank Hennessy, CHAPS president. He added that there are even stories of Canadian soldiers, in violation of the law, carrying such a flag into battle during the Battle of Vimy Ridge. “After the war, Canada insisted on being at the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 and getting its own vote and the British did not like that,” he added. Having a 1907 Red Ensign with the nine provincial shields, including Alberta’s, is also a special link to this province’s history, said Taylor. Alberta entered confederation in 1905 and Taylor believes the flag shares important messages that resonate today. The first is its symbolic representation of unity and the building of a nation with all the elements of Canada’s history represented. “When I look at that, I think it could have been flying outside a hospital and this building (the museum) was a hospital,” said Taylor. It tells me we had a lot of pride as a country, we wanted our own identity to the point that the government was prepared to defy its colonial masters and fly this flag atop the parliament building.” As a former British citizen, Taylor had the opportunity to see Canada from two very different perspectives. “We were a colony and part of the empire and I grew up at a time and in a country that was the master of the empire,” he said. “So, now, to live in a country that has got its independence ... and went through all these steps in the short period of 150 years is fantastic,” Taylor added saying he sees the flag as part of the process that forged Canada. Like many historic symbols, there is a duality that can only be seen from future context and in this case it is the example of the need for Indigenous reconciliation. While the nine shields proudly display Canada’s union, it conspicuously excludes what was at the time and remains Canada’s largest land mass – the Northwest Territories (later divided to add Nunavut in 1999). “One of the things that bothers me about this flag is it has no representation of what used to be the Northwest Territories,” said Taylor. “Here, we’ve got a massive part – 75 per cent – of our country with no representation and we’ve got all the founding nations but, particularly the Inuit, are not represented.” So while, Taylor beams about the flag’s connection to Canadian nation building and pride, he does not ignore the fact it also demonstrates the importance of reconciliation and making up for past wrongs against Canada’s First Peoples. “This is one of the errors of the past, they are not represented on the flag,” he said. Taylor, Hennessy and the rest of CHAPS are proud to have acquired this rare link to Canadian history and they hope it attracts people to learn more about Canada’s past. “It’s a part of understanding our national history and it’s an important part because the flag is very symbolic ... it means something,” said Taylor.
