Ontario flag

[2001mark]

Saw this piece in May 19th's Toronto Star regarding Ontario's official flag.

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/05/19/time-to-give-ontario-the-flag-it-deserves.html

I dunno, I've always liked it. Yet I never knew as the piece points out that it was rushed as backlash to the new Canadian flag, which ditched the Union Jack(?). Thus this one was rushed through Queen's Park by the conservatives at the time without much debate.

(as too was Manitoba's flag which shares its template)

Sure the Union Jack is ageing as a Canadian relic if you will, yet the heritage of the entire province from Ottawa to Windsor to Niagara to Kenora is as Anglo centric as it gets...

I say keep flying it for another 50-100yrs before re-opening debate. I mean, it's not really offensive at all.

If they were to change it, put the Canadian flag in the top left.

[IceCap]

Putting the Canadian flag in the upper left corner would be a bit redundant, as you already have the maple leaves in the shield.

I'd prefer to keep it, as it creates a nice sort of balance with the national flag. The national flag moves us forward, the provincial flag reminds us of our heritage.

If it had to change? I'd keep it simple. Three golden maple leaves on a single stem on a green flag. So basically a flag version of the arms.

[RyanB06]

I'd prefer to see something incorporating the trillium, the official provincial flower. It's everywhere else (the provincial logo, the license plate), so why not?

[CC97]

I'd prefer to see something incorporating the trillium, the official provincial flower. It's everywhere else (the provincial logo, the license plate), so why not?

The license plate has a crown rather than a trillium, in commemoration of a visit by the King in the 1930s (because apparently everything we do in Ontario has to pay homage to the UK).

We need a new flag, we have no identity here, no outwardly obvious symbol/banner to call our own, a trillium in some form or another makes the most sense.

[1clkgtramg]

Our plates do have a Trillium but it's sublimated on reflective ink so it's not easily noticeable on the road but there should be 3 trilliums running down the centre.

I wouldn't want to change our flag, it makes no sense to. Since when did the excuse of immigrants coming from places that aren't UK or Ireland mean we need to change an established flag to suit their needs? Unless the flag has some extremist or troubled nature behind it, it shouldn't be changed.

Sure there may not have been much thought in it but it does serve a purpose and does say Ontario (the coat of Arms and the colours featured in it). If anyone understands these Red and Blue Ensigns is that they are all cookie cutter except for the image located on the Fly. The image is the specific coat of arms and anyone from or around Ontario can should recognize that. A flag is about the history of the canton not updating every 7 years to keep up with the times like its a car or something.

However, if we were to ever have to change, I would prefer we adopt the Franco-Ontarian flag with Gold in place of White or have both the F-O Flag and current Ontario Flag together.

[BigBubba]

What a novel thought -- paying homage to those who founded this province! What did the UK ever give us other than the rule of law, trial by jury, the Westminster Parliamentary System, common law, the English language, security from US attacks, and nearly all of our political/legal/military traditions? I think a clipart trillium consisting of three men in a hot tub would be a much better representation of our province's culture and heritage.

[BigRed618]

I actually made a concept flag for this province a while back. It wasn't anything too exciting, though. Imagine St. George's Cross with the upper left section is green with gold maple leaves.

[IceCap]

I've got some concepts in mind that I'll share once I find the time, but I'm in agreement with 1clkgtramg and BigBubba. There's no real need to change the flag. Yeah Chris, you could argue there's nothing "distinctly" Ontarian, but look at what has traditionally defined Ontarian history. The Orange Order. British-style Unionism. Immigrants from England, Scotland, and Ireland. Victorianism. Like it or not? Ontario is defined by its British heritage. So much so that you can argue that a flag that utilizes the Union Jack is perfectly representative of the province.

Now obviously there has been a massive immigration shift, and Toronto is one of the great multicultural centres in the world. And that is, without a doubt, a wonderful thing. That being said? It doesn't change the roots of the province, or the nature of the institutions that define it.

There's everything Bubba said, and more. Cities named "London," "Waterloo," "Kitchener," "Windsor," "Hamilton," and "Chatham." Roads named "Wellington" and "Edinburgh." The QEW. Liberals and Tories. The government meeting at Queen's Park. In some ways we're more British then the Brits.

A flag isn't a team or company logo. Simple and bold isn't enough. You should be able to "read" a country, province, state, or city's story in the flag. And close cultural ties to the UK define Ontario's story. So it all works.

I'd still like to churn out a few flag concepts though. 'cause flags are awesome.

The license plate has a crown rather than a trillium, in commemoration of a visit by the King in the 1930s (because apparently everything we do in Ontario has to pay homage to the UK).

Ut incepit Fidelis sic permanet

[2001mark]

...btw, this is a disgrace...

...please let's return to

[2001mark]

What a novel thought -- paying homage to those who founded this province! What did the UK ever give us other than the rule of law, trial by jury, the Westminster Parliamentary System, common law, the English language, security from US attacks, and nearly all of our political/legal/military traditions? I think a clipart trillium consisting of three men in a hot tub would be a much better representation of our province's culture and heritage.

Yep. Again, we'll revisit in 50-100yrs from now... just leave it today.

[Morgan33]

I'm in favor of anything that gets rid of the union jack

[IceCap]

Some Ontario flag concepts.

The current flag, for reference.

Concept 1. Banner of arms. It's simply taking the coat of arms of the province and turning it into a flag. New Brunswick and PEI do this with their flags.

Concept 2. Like Concept 1 but still think the Cross of St. George is too...English? Here it is with only the golden maple leaves.

Concept 3. Based on the Franco-Onatarian flag, with the French lilly replaced by the Ontario coat of arms.

Concept 4. The same as the current flag, with a golden trillium in place of the Union Jack.

Concept 5. The "Alberta version." The provincial coat of arms against a solid colour background. I decided to keep it red to both keep it distinct from Alberta's design and to call back to the general design of the current flag.

[1clkgtramg]

I like your first concept the best, although having a 90 degree flipped St Georges Cross on the hoist part?

I feel fusing a clip art Trillium with a realistic Maple Leaf doesn't mesh well, but then a realistic Trillium ends up with 6 points so... I don't know. I'd still rather not change a thing.

What about Alberta with Green sides like the Canadian Template? Too much?

[sportstar1212]

If I had to rank them:

1

5

2

4

3

That said, I'd rather Ontario's flag just stay as-is. No need to :censored: around with history & tradition.

[cubsfan2015]

Ice_Cap,those a pretty damn good concepts. I love the 1st one the most because modifying the banner of arms into a flag is a good way for a country flag.

[Morgan33]

Concept 3. Based on the Franco-Onatarian flag, with the French lilly replaced by the Ontario coat of arms.

This one looks fantastic. 5 is also very nice.