The Maple Leaf

According to many historians, the maple leaf began to serve as a Canadian symbol as early as 1700. In 1834 the first St.Jean Baptiste Society in North America made the maple leaf its emblem. In 1848, the Toronto literary annual "The Maple Leaf" referred to it as the chosen emblem of Canada. By 1860, the maple leaf was incorporated into the badge of the 100th Regiment (Royal Canadians) and was used extensively in decorations for the visit of the Prince of Wales that year.

The Maple Leaf Forever was Canada's confederation song in 1867, it was regarded as the national song for several decades.

The maple leaf today appears on the penny. However, between 1876 and 1901, it appeared on all coins. The modern one-cent piece has two maple leaves on a common twig, a design that has gone almost unchanged since 1937.

With the proclamation of Canada's new flag in 1965, the maple leaf has become the most-prominent Canadian symbol.

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