When Prime Minister Lester Pearson vowed to create a distinctive Canadian flag in 1964, some of his advisors warned him that it would be ‘political suicide’ to tamper with the country’s most important national symbol. But Pearson wanted a flag that “would not be mistaken for the emblem of any other country.”

Whether it’s our national flag, our national anthem, our famous Bluenose schooner, or a mascot named Winnie, we understand ourselves through our symbols.

These Minutes look at some of the people and events that helped emblemize Canada.