Information AboutGeorge Stanley |
|
Colonel The Honourable George Francis Gillman Stanley, C.C. , C.D. , F.R.S.C. , F.R.H.S.C. (hon). ( July 6 , 1907 - September 13 , 2002 ) was an historian, author, soldier, teacher, public servant, and designer of the current Canadian Flag . CAREER George F.G. Stanley was born in . Stanley returned to Canada in 1936 and was appointed a professor of history at Mount Allison University . He joined the military upon arriving in New Brunswick . During World War II , he served as an historian in the Historical Section at Canadian Army Headquarters in London , where he was also responsible for the Canadian War Artists ; he was discharged as a Lieutenant-Colonel in 1947 . He then taught at the University Of British Columbia , holding the first ever chair in Canadian History in Canada. In 1949 , Stanley went to teach at the Royal Military College Of Canada , where he was dean of arts for seven years, and remained there until 1969 . He then returned to Mount Allison University to become director of the new Canadian Studies program, the first of its kind in Canada. He retired from teaching in 1975 , but continued to write and remained active in public life well into his nineties. He is buried in Sackville, New Brunswick . The historian, R.C. Macleod of the University of Alberta, has written that: “Much of English Canada’s understanding of the formative years of the Canadian West comes from George Stanley’s remarkable work, ''The Birth of Western Canada''. Considering that it was one of the earliest works by an academically trained historian in this country, it has stood the test of time remarkably well. No other work of Canadian history published before the Second World War is as regularly read by historians, students and the general public…. [This subject will always be identified with his name.” PUBLIC LIFE In 1982 , he became the 25th Lieutenant-Governor Of New Brunswick since Confederation and served in this capacity until 1987 . The mid-1980s were a festive and very busy time as New Brunswickers marked their bicentennial. During those years, eminent visitors from around the world also came to help New Brunswick celebrate. The Stanleys, with their strong sense of tradition and their comfortable manner with people from all walks of life, proved well suited to this role. FAMILY LIFE In 1946 , George Stanley married Ruth L. Hill, a Montreal lawyer. They have three daughters: Dr. Della M.M. Stanley Thomas Cromwell , Professor Marietta R.E. Stanley, and Dr. Laurie C.C. Stanley-Blackwell John D. Blackwell . The Stanleys also have two grandchildren: Thomas E.G.S. Cromwell and Ruth L.H.Q. Stanley-Blackwell. HONOURS In 1976 , he was made an Officer of the Order Of Canada and was promoted to Companion in 1994 . He also received a Knight of Justice of the Order Of St. John , the Canadian Forces Decoration and twelve honorary degrees, as well as his four earned degrees. He was a fellow of the Royal Society Of Canada and of the Royal Historical Society. In 1983 he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Heraldry Society Of Canada (FRHSC). In 1950 , he was awarded the Royal Society of Canada's Tyrrell Medal for history. In 1955 , he was elected president of the Canadian Historical Association ; his landmark presidential address was entitled Act or Pact? Another Look at Confederation . INVOLVEMENT WITH THE CANADIAN FLAG On , a prominent member of the multi-party parliamentary flag committee, suggesting that the new flag of Canada should be instantly recognizable, and simple enough so that school children could draw it. He drew a rough sketch of his design on the bottom of the letter. (It had been inspired as he drove earlier that day, when he saw a red and white tri-bar flag fluttering near the Royal Military College Of Canada in Kingston, Ontario .) The Stanley proposal was placed on a wall with literally hundreds of other flag designs, and eventually was selected as one of the final three designs for consideration. Through some clever political moves by the Liberal members of the committee, it beat out Diefenbaker 's flag (a combination of Fleurs-de-lis , a Maple Leaf and the Union Jack ), as well as the Pearson Pennant (a three-leafed stem on a white background with blue bars on either side). Stanley's design was slightly modified by a government graphic artist (who, ironically enough, was a separatist), who gave the flag its current look. It was officially adopted as the flag of Canada by the House of Commons on December 15 , 1964 and by the Senate on December 17 , 1964 , and proclaimed by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II , taking effect on February 15 , 1965 . Support for the new flag grew quickly, even in Quebec . As John Matheson observed in his book ''Canada's Flag'', "when in June 1965, Dr. George F.G. Stanley of {Link without Title} Royal Military College ... was granted an honorary doctorate at Laval University , he was loudly applauded by the student body when the Canadian flag was referred to in his citation. The applause interrupted the citation." Some debate lingered over whether Stanley or the graphic designer should get credit for the flag, but it was settled in 1995 when Prime Minister Jean Chrétien officially recognized George Stanley as the father of Canada's flag . SELECTED WORKS
EXTERNAL LINKS
|
|
|