Why does adding a maple leaf make something Canadian?

[bcla]

Maybe I’ll clarify. Yeah I get that all things “Canadian” use the maple leaf. Especially some American brands that want to declare that “we belong in Canada”. At least with an American company doing business in Canada it seemed kind of trite.

However, this ship seemed different. I’ve seen many naval vessels in person or in pictures, and this was the first where I’d seen any kind of marking on the ship or hull (other than a flag) that tried to make it obvious whose ship this was. Also seems rather odd why the tour hours were limited yesterday when today is Canada’s Thanksgiving.

 

[Marchand63]

Maybe they were limited so the Canadian crew could enjoy, oh say - Thanksgiving

 

[usnuzuloose]

We were in San Francisco today for Fleet Week. The most intriguing ship for tours was the visiting HMCS Halifax, which is a Canadian frigate. I’d been on several US Navy ships in the past but never a Royal Canadian Navy one. So we got there where it was parked right at Pier 15/17 where the Exploratorium and the Swiss consulate are. But there was no line and a very polite sailor informing us that they were closed for tours for the day. I double checked the schedule and they had a short 9-noon window for tours today. However, the one thing that kind of stood out on a gray ship that otherwise looked like a modern naval vessel of any other country was a red maple leaf on the side of the superstructure.

So what is it about the maple leaf? I’ve been to at least one part of Canada, and placing a maple leaf somewhere on a logo like Canadian Tire or Real Canadian Superstore seems to point to being distinctly Canadian. Heck, even McDonald’s adds a maple leaf to the center of the Golden Arches.

I would have been nosy and asked the sailor about, even if he did not know the answer.

 

[usnuzuloose]

But Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in Canada!!

 

[bcla]

Maybe they were limited so the Canadian crew could enjoy, oh say - Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving though. My kid got the day off and I’m not at work. Thinking of going. Would saying “happy Thanksgiving” to a crew member be out of line?

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Today is Thanksgiving though. My kid got the day off and I’m not at work. Thinking of going. Would saying “happy Thanksgiving” to a crew member be out of line?

I'm sure the crew member would appreciate the sentiment. While today is officially Thanksgiving, most of my friends and family have their turkey dinner on Sunday, and celebrate Monday as turkey coma recovery day (or 'travel back home and get ready for work' day).

 

[Allison]

The maple leaf is a pretty well known Canadian symbol.

Exactly. I thought the wording of the post title was odd-putting a symbol on something doesn't make it Canadian.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Don't worry, we don't either and I'm American! haha

Same

 

[declansdad]

Maybe I’ll clarify. Yeah I get that all things “Canadian” use the maple leaf. Especially some American brands that want to declare that “we belong in Canada”. At least with an American company doing business in Canada it seemed kind of trite.

However, this ship seemed different. I’ve seen many naval vessels in person or in pictures, and this was the first where I’d seen any kind of marking on the ship or hull (other than a flag) that tried to make it obvious whose ship this was. Also seems rather odd why the tour hours were limited yesterday when today is Canada’s Thanksgiving.

Most if not all Canadian warships have the maple leaf on the side of the ship.

I'm sure tour hours were limited by the other duties of the crew.

 

[bcla]

I'm sure the crew member would appreciate the sentiment. While today is officially Thanksgiving, most of my friends and family have their turkey dinner on Sunday, and celebrate Monday as turkey coma recovery day (or 'travel back home and get ready for work' day).

Makes sense. So it was either some huge celebration on the ship, or the crew members were letting loose in San Francisco. There’s usually a skeleton crew on these ships when there are public tours though.

 

[soccerdad72]

Most if not all Canadian warships have the maple leaf on the side of the ship.

Can you Google us some pictures, please?

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Since WW2 Canadian Naval vessels have had a Maple Leaf on their stack... it was done at the time of the battle of the Atlantic. Once green - then red for higher visibility.

http://www.rogerlitwiller.com/2017/05/04/the-canadian-maple-leaf-a-rcn-tradition-since-wwii/

 

[Buckeye218]

Of course! But we don't put sausage and corn bread in our stuffing because that would just be weird.

My wife is Canada-born and raised and she makes the best sausage stuffing I've ever had in my life!!!

 

[tvguy]

The Union Jack was never the Canadian Flag, it used to be the British Red Ensign with Canada's coat of arms on it.

I'll take your word for it since the last of that generation in my family passed away in January. Although I still have a couple of Union Jacks my mom had .

 

[jump00]

But Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in Canada!!

Thanks!!!!!!!

 

[22Tink]

Seems pretty obvious to me.

Happy Thanksgiving to all our Canadian friends.

Thank you!!

 

[declansdad]

I'll take your word for it since the last of that generation in my family passed away in January. Although I still have a couple of Union Jacks my mom had .

You will find plenty of Union Jacks around but not because they were the flag. This was the version of the Canadian flag before the current version.

 

[Marchand63]

Today is Thanksgiving though. My kid got the day off and I’m not at work. Thinking of going. Would saying “happy Thanksgiving” to a crew member be out of line?

So your kid & you have the day off so the crew can't so they can say hello to you?!?!!?! Maybe them having a day off is more important than your "howdy".

 

[bethbuchall]

Of course! But we don't put sausage and corn bread in our stuffing because that would just be weird.

Ugh! None of that here either! Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[bcla]

So we did the tour today. I got the name wrong. The ship is the HMCS Winnipeg which is a Halifax class frigate. I did say “happy Thanksgiving” to several of the crew members and it seemed pretty well received. I found out that they had some event on Sunday which is why the tours were cut short, and tonight the crew is having Thanksgiving dinner.

It was a pretty nice ship. We only had access to one level though, from the helo deck to the bow. They had graphics at each spot on the ship.