Canadian Red Ensign (WWI 1868-1921)

Quantity order discounts available for 4″ x 6″ Canadian Red Ensign WWI paper stick flags

For quantity discounts, please visit this page to order 4″ x 6″ Canadian Red Ensign WWI paper stick flags. Thank you.

WWI Canadian Red Ensign, 1868-1921 (Also known as Vimy Ridge Flag). Exclusive to The Flag Shop.

Please Note:

Canadian Red, Blue, and White Ensigns, as well as Royal Canadian Air Force Ensigns can be purchased by the public.

The red ensign became a symbol of Canada shortly after confederation in 1868. Its usage was informal as the official flag of Canada at this time was the Royal Union Flag (or Union Jack). Despite this, Sir John A. Macdonald frequently used the red ensign with its shield depicting the arms of the four founding provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. In 1892, it was granted authorized use for ships registered in Canada. The red ensign during this period had no standardized design as flag makers would embellish the shield with wreaths and crowns and the shield itself changed and grew as more provinces joined Canada. Despite this, the original four province shield was still in wide use even into the 1920s before King George V granted Canada its own coat of arms which then became the shield of the Red Ensign from 1922 – 1957.

The original Canadian Red Ensign was also the version flown in 1917 at Vimy Ridge during World War I. The original still survives and is housed in the Imperial War Museum in London.