Discovering Ontario · Drawing 24 of 32
The Franco-Ontarian Flag
Sudbury
In 1975, in Sudbury, the Franco-Ontarian flag was raised for the first time. Next to the pole, a white lily on green; on the other side, a green trillium on white.
Did you know?
The lily stands for the French language, and the trillium stands for Ontario.
Look together
Draw the lily and the trillium on the flag, then colour it green and white.
An idea to try
Make up a flag for your family with two symbols that matter to you.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
The Franco-Ontarian flag was first raised on September 25, 1975, at the University of Sudbury. Historian Gaétan Gervais and Michel Dupuis were among its creators. The fleur-de-lys stands for the Francophonie and the French presence in Ontario; the trillium, Ontario’s floral emblem, roots the community in the province. In 2001, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario recognized it as the emblem of Ontario’s French-speaking community. In 2020, it was also recognized as an emblem of Ontario. Since 2010, September 25 has been Franco-Ontarian Day. The drawing composes a simple scene; it does not reproduce the 1975 event.
The flag is left completely empty for the child to draw the lily and the trillium, then colour it green and white. The book does not reproduce the flowers or the dividing line. Look together at the side next to the pole and the other side of the flag. The extra activity remains making up a family flag with two symbols that matter to you.
Sources and illustration notes (2)
The flag is left completely empty, without a lily, trillium or dividing line, for the child to draw. The people are imagined; this scene does not reconstruct the first flag-raising in 1975.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- The Canadian Encyclopedia — Franco-Ontarian FlagHistory and symbols of the Franco-Ontarian flag.
- Ontario Heritage Trust — The Franco-Ontarian FlagFirst raised on September 25, 1975, at the University of Sudbury; fleur-de-lys for the Francophonie, trillium for Ontario; emblem recognized in 2001; Day proclaimed in 2010. Additional verification for 2020: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/s20021
Source review: 2026-10-22. Illustrations are simplified for colouring.
