Canada’s former national flag, the Canadian Red Ensign, evolved over the years as the nation grew.

In this video, based on a talk he gave several times in 2016-2017, Charles D. Maginley outlines the history of the former national flag of Canada, and shows some interesting examples from his collection of flags.

What is an ensign anyway? Learn about the Red Ensign’s origin in the British Navy, how the Canadian flag evolved as new provinces joined Confederation, and how to date a flag.