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The Canadian Red Ensign (French: Red Ensign canadien) served as the civil ensign for Canada from 1892 to 1965, and as an informal flag of Canada from the late-19th century to 1965. The flag is a British red ensign, with the Royal Union Flag in the canton, adorned with the shield of the coat of arms of Canada. The Canadian Red Ensign emerged as an informal flag to represent Canada as early as the 1870s and was used "on all public buildings throughout the provinces," prior to becoming the country's civil ensign in 1892. The flag was adorned with the arms of the Canadian provinces until 1921, when the Arms of Canada replaced the amalgamation of provincial arms on the ensign. In 1945, an order in council named the Canadian Red Ensign a "distinctive Canadian flag" to fly on government buildings. However, the ensign was never formally adopted as a national flag of Canada, with the Union Flag used as the national flag of Canada until the Maple Leaf flag was adopted in 1965. The Maple Leaf flag also replaced the Canadian Red Ensign as the civil ensign of the country after it was adopted.

Source: Wikipedia