Why is the Maple Leaf the symbol for Canada?

Brainyblonde

Origins of the maple leaf Even though red maples grow only in eastern Canada, the choice of the maple leaf for the flag was not arbitrary. The maple leaf is an enduring symbol which can be traced to the very beginnings of Canadian history. The aboriginal peoples were aware of the food properties of maple sap and harvested it every spring. This was a skill soon learned by European settlers. As early as 1700, the maple leaf was being referred to as a symbol. In 1834, the first St. Jean Baptiste Society adopted the maple leaf as its emblem. Fourteen years later, in 1848, The Maple Leaf, an annual Toronto literary review, declared the maple leaf to be the emblem of Canada. http://www.cric.ca/en_html/guide/flags/flags.html "The single leaf," he (George Stanley) wrote, "has the virtue of simplicity; it emphasizes the distinctive Canadian symbol; and suggests the idea of loyalty to a single country." http://www.stfx.ca/people/lstanley/stanley/obituaryOttawaCitizen.htm Sep 28 03, 1:08 PM