Fifty-four years ago today — Monday, February 15, 1965, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson raised Canada’s red and white maple leaf flag for the first time.
Since 2010, Timmins resident Karla Habla – a.k.a “Mr. Canada” – spent part of the day handing out paper flags at the corner of Algonquin Boulevard and Pine Street.
He wants Canadians to fly more flags, more often.
“Not just on Canada Day or Canada Flag Day,” he says, “all year round.”
Habla says he does his Canada Day and Labour Day walks and his flag day giveaway to thank Canada for taking him in as an immigrant.
He calls our national flag beautiful and a good design, as he has noted on travels through Europe.
“Canada flag, you can spot it quick, easy to identify comparing other flags, a little confusing.”
Habla confirms what you’ve heard about people in other countries reacting positively to Canada’s flag.
He is German, born and raised in the former Czechoslovakia. He came to Canada in 1957 and Timmins in 1961. He does what he can to promote Canada and being Canadian, wherever he goes.
“I haven’t seen the world,” he explains, “ but I’ve been in 16 countries and it’s nice to see other countries, but it’s always nice when I get off the plane here in Timmins.”