More Good News - Brockville recognized as the Birthplace of the Canadian Flag

	Gord Brown, MP Leeds-Grenville
Constituency Office 2399 Parkedale Ave, Unit 120, Brockville, ON  K6V 3G9 Tel: 613-498-3096     Fax: 613-498-3100 E-mail: gord.brown.c1@parl.gc.ca		House of Commons 138 East Block, Ottawa, ON  K1A 0A6 Tel: 613-992-8756     Fax: 613-996-9171 E-mail: gord.brown@parl.gc.ca

Media Release: For immediate release

Date: February 13, 2014

Motion recognizes Brockville as birthplace of flag

Ottawa – Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville, today announces that he has introduced a Motion in the House of Commons that recognizes Brockville as the birthplace of the Canadian flag.

“As Flag Day approaches on February 15, and we are one year away from the 50^th anniversary of our National Flag, I wanted to recognize the work that was done by the late Hon. John Ross Matheson, former MP for Leeds County,” explains Brown.

“He was the man who steered the flag committee through their debates in 1964 and he was the one who eventually placed the current flag design in front of them,” he adds. On February 15, 1965, the National Flag of Canada was raised for the first time on Parliament Hill and across the country.

“Our flag is recognized around the world and is the greatest symbol of our country,” says Brown. “Some of the hours of work that brought that design to Ottawa were spent at the Matheson home on North Augusta Road in Brockville.” Prime Minister Lester Pearson recognized Matheson’s role and said he was: “the man who had more to do with it than any other.”

“I would also like to recognize the work that is being accomplished by the 50 Years of Our Flag Committee in Brockville that is bringing recognition to Matheson’s work,” comments Brown.

The Motion in the House reads: “That, in the opinion of the House, the government should recognize Brockville, Ontario as the birthplace of the National Flag of Canada.”

Tomorrow, Saturday February 15th is Flag Day. The 50 Years of Our Flag Committee still has much to accomplish in the next year although much has been achieved. The official unveiling of the two flag paintings occurs at 3 pm at the Brockville Rowing Club. One of these paintings has never left the studio. I will also display many of the paintings that were used as a basis for the design that our Friend John Ross Matheson approved. It has been three years of effort to get to this point. The weather will actually clear in time for the event! Life is good and the 50 Years of Our Flag Committee is very optimistic about the next year.