On a cold and snowy winter’s eve in 1964, Joan O’Malley stitched together the first Canadian maple leaf flag ever flown. She worked late into the night and secretly sewed a prototype of the national flag for then Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson. This song celebrates that special moment, when the cherished and enduring symbol of the red maple leaf became our national emblem. It also tells the story of Canada’s rich history and natural beauty as well as the cultural diversity that the new flag would soon represent. This piece was commissioned by the Flag Wavers of Waterloo Region, Ontario. It premiered on February 19, 2015, marking the fiftieth anniversary of our national flag, at the Region of Waterloo Headquarters, and performed by the Smithson School Junior Choir, directed by Sharon Scott.
