Many years ago, Canada was the location of a big struggle between two popular leaders. There was Lester B. Pearson who was the head of the Liberal group while John Diefenbaker was at the opposite end representing the Conservative group. They were constantly fighting for the top position of the beautiful country. One of the most noteworthy events was the Great Flag Debate in 1964 wherein the current Canadian flag you see today is the result of such an incident.
The beginnings of the debate were in 1867 when Canada was still a new nation. The country used to be governed by the British Crown then gained its independence several years later. The Union Jack flag was the first Canadian word flag during that period. Several years after, people started to discuss the possibility of having their own flag. A lot of debates and struggles ensued afterwards to determine which one would best represent the nation.
The beaver is one of the most essential elements that was considered for the final design. The animal is known for its Canadian traits. People always looked up to the animal as a model in the way they perform, work and serve.
The beaver was known for being hardworking, efficient, close to its family and a huge contributor to its community. There were several traits in the creature that Canadians also aimed to have.
Some people, on the contrary, felt that the new Canadian flag needed a stronger element or image to make it a point that the country was well-represented at international events. This is why we have the current flag.