Talk:Republic of Canada

Correct flag?
I've noticed that there appears to be a discrepancy between the flag presented with the article, which is described in the caption as representing the "Republic of Canada" and a flag appearing on the website linked at the bottom of the article, which is labelled as being that of the "Republic of Canada". Considering that that website is at present the only source of information we are provided with in order to substantiate the claim at hand, in my opinion, the apparent discrepancy should be treated seriously. The version with the word "Liberty" appearing on it is described on the site as the "Upper Canada Reformist flag", a more generalized descriptor than the one for the other flag containing the two stars and a crescent shape, which is clearly ascribed to the "Republic of Canada". Perhaps the "Liberty" flag which is currently presented with the article is in fact that of the general "reformist" or "radical" movement itself, while the other is in reality that of the Republic of Canada. In my opinion, we should either replace the existing one in the article with the more solidly referenced alternative, or provide reliable substantiation for the version we're currently displaying. cheers Deconstructhis (talk) 07:36, 15 November 2008 (UTC)
 * Hey there, got your message on my talk page. I'll leave the flag up for the time, because I have no way to back this up, but I live in Alberta, Canada, and my high school class several years ago spent considerable time covering the Republic of Canada.  The flag which was on the page was claimed in several of our textbooks to be the flag of the Republic of Canada.  The reason I cannot verify this is because I forget the titles of the books (it was several years back, as I said).  I'm attempting to track them down, however, at which point I will, with any luck, be able to prove its use as the flag of Canada.
 * As for the other flag, I find it very unlikely that it was used. Despite the fact it was not covered in the aforementioned books, it includes two elements which make it unlikely in my opinion that it was used.  One is the crescent - crescents are generally used primarily on the flags of Muslim nations (Turkey being the most famous example).  Second is the use of the French tricolor, as this was supposedly used during the Upper Canada rebellion - an area primarily British.
 * Anyway, I've rambled on too long here. Be back to check for a reply at some point. Mnmazur (talk) 05:26, 21 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Hello Mnmazur, unfortunately, that's not how Wikipedia works in terms of the need for providing reliable referencing for material that's added to the encyclopedia. Unless a specific reference from a reliable source can be provided for the information that's being added, we are bound by policy not to include it. Personal opinions don't count here, it's not an acceptable reference for someone to simply say they "remember seeing it somewhere", specific details must be provided if the legitimacy of the material is challenged. cheers Deconstructhis (talk) 14:48, 21 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I realize that, hence my saying, "I'll leave the flag up for the time, because I have no way to back this up..." As I said, I'm looking for the source, and when I find it, I will re-add the flag with appropriate reference. Mnmazur (talk) 23:21, 21 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Verified the flag in Flagscan: The Newsletter of the Canadian Flag Association, Issue 8, Volume 11, No. 4, Winter 1987-88. Separately, the flag appears on the masthead of "The Rochester Volunteer," a newspaper published by William Lyon Mackenzie. I cannot verify the colours. (Mapleski (talk) 21:45, 27 May 2009 (UTC))

Flag Dispute (New Subject as Previous Section is a Decade Old)
Right, weighing in on the flag dispute. Huge thank you to User:Mapleski back in 2009 for putting just enough information on his talk page post for me to get a source, although it does appear that account is now inactive. The flag on the masthead of "The Rochester Volunteer" from 1841 is definitely the "Liberty Two Star" flag, and not the French Inspired flag. I'll leave the WP:Dispute up though. WanukeX (talk) 00:03, 29 May 2022 (UTC)


 * Reverted to my recent digital version of the official reconstruction of the flag by the Government of Canada displayed by Parks Canada at the Fort Malden National Historical Site. This version is based on a captured sketch of the flag carried by rebels and the only known surviving fragment of the flag, now in their possession and displayed at the museum of the Fort Malden National Historic Site. The Flag Scan version (1987-8) appears to be based on the 1841 report in "The Rochester Volunteer", more than three years after the events of the rebellion. As noted above, this may not be a reference to the same flag, and if it is, is likely erroneous - due to artistic license, reconstruction based on an erroneous verbal or written report, etc. Shorepine (talk) 05:00, 16 June 2022 (UTC)


 * The 1841 version from the Rochester Volunteer was commissioned by Mackenzie, so perhaps that lends it more credence? He was there, after all. My theory (with no evidence) is that they had multiple flags. Grande (talk) 14:12, 13 October 2022 (UTC)

“This version is based on a captured sketch of the flag carried by rebels”, is there a source for that? WanukeX (talk) 12:26, 17 October 2022 (UTC)

Two separate entities
The infobox gives the impression that there was one entity called the Republic Of Canada, lasting from Dec. 17 1837 to Dec. 4 1838.

In fact, the republic proclaimed by Mackenzie on Navy Island ended, for all practical purposes, on Jan. 13 1838. And if I'm understanding the history correctly, the Hunters' Republic Of Canada wasn't proclaimed until Sept. of that year.

I know the two "republics" pretty much existed only in the minds of the people who proclaimed them, and the Hunters likely considered themselves the heirs to Mackenzie. But still, as far as ad hoc pseudo-nations go, they seemed, in practice, to have separate existences. LeftAlberta1968 (talk) 01:43, 26 August 2022 (UTC)

"Canadian Republic" listed at Redirects for discussion
An editor has identified a potential problem with the redirect Canadian Republic and has thus listed it for discussion. This discussion will occur at Redirects for discussion/Log/2022 September 12 until a consensus is reached, and readers of this page are welcome to contribute to the discussion. Privybst (talk) 12:31, 12 September 2022 (UTC)

Flag Dispute, Again.
Reopening it, again. We've had the flags removed, we've had each flag on its own before, we've had both flags side by side with an explanation of the dispute before. I personally am in favour of both flags with an explanation of the dispute. They both have sources per WP:REF.

- French Tricolour Flag - Used at the Fort Malden National Historic Site by the Government of Canada, and at https://tilife.org/ThePlace/History/HistoryArticles/tabid/484/articleType/ArticleView/ArticleID/357/PageID/390/Default.html

- "Liberty" Two Star Flag - Published by William Lyon Mackenzie in 1841 in The Rochester Volunteer at https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=tvutLEwYQz8C&dat=18410417&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

I also want to remind people this dispute isn't about your favourite flag, it's about what the sources say, and with what we currently have, it's pretty clear the answer is "the sources are disputed and we shouldn't be making the judgement call". WanukeX (talk) 13:53, 17 June 2024 (UTC)

I think we should go with the determination made by the Fort Malden Historic Site. The "Liberty" flag appears to be apocryphal. Wellington Bay (talk) 17:00, 17 June 2024 (UTC)


 * "apocryphal", it's in a newspaper *published by mackenzie* in 1841, with a sourcing for that. If anything the Fort Malden one is the apocryphal one, the sourcing for it boils down to "The historic site doesn't say how they know but they must know". There is no sourcing for it before the early 2000s other than the historic site saying so. WanukeX (talk) 13:51, 21 June 2024 (UTC)


 * Which page and column of the Rochester Volunteer is the flag published because I haven't been able to find it and it's difficult to search the pages on my phone? Wellington Bay (talk) 14:41, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * It's on the masthead, comes up no problem on my phone off this link Vol. 1, no. 13 (Jul 10, 1841). https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=tvutLEwYQz8C&dat=18410710&printsec=frontpage&hl=en WanukeX (talk) 02:40, 23 June 2024 (UTC)