ADAMS: What would a 21st-century Ontario flag look like?
A few weeks ago, I made the case in these pages that Ontario's flag no longer looks like us. That Red Ensign, dusted off in 1965 with our provincial shield slapped on, feels tired and out of touch, a colonial relic that's more about where we've been than who we've become. I see it on my street, and I don't see myself.
The response from readers was striking and surprisingly warm. Most of you seemed to feel it too—that we deserve something better. Still, it's one thing to point out what's broken; it's another thing entirely to roll up our sleeves and build what comes next. So I sat down the other day and just asked myself: what would a flag actually look like if it honestly captured the Ontario I know?
Living in the Greater Toronto Area, my everyday life is this constant push-pull. One minute I'm stepping out into one of the most energetic, diverse cities in North America—surrounded by glass canyons, concrete, and that unmistakable CN Tower cutting through the skyline. Then I hop in the car and head north, and suddenly I'm in deep forests, on granite shores, or beside these quiet, timeless lakes.
A real Ontario flag shouldn't pick a side. It needs to hold the actual rhythm of life here in balance: the ambitious, bustling city energy and the wild, ancient natural beauty that's never too far away.
That thinking led to what I'm calling the Adams Pale: a clean vertical divide that honours our geographic and cultural truth. On the hoist side, closest to the flagpole, a serene lake-blue field carries a modernized white trillium. I wanted to keep the official flower, but stripped of overly ornate lines. The result is a bold, geometric icon that feels contemporary, not fussy. It speaks to our natural heritage and deep roots without nostalgia.
On the fly side, the design shifts to a contemporary dark grey-blue panel. Rising from a solid base is the clean silhouette of the CN Tower. For those of us in what Albertans have affectionately dubbed "the centre of the universe," this a daily visual anchor that represents energy, immigration, industry, and the vertical ambition that drives much of our countries economy. The urban experience isn't an afterthought or something to hide. It is central to modern Ontario.
The colour choices came directly from my lived experience. No tired primary colours from old European heraldry. Instead, cool, muted tones—slate greys, pale sky blues, and deeper water blues. Regardless of where in the province you might live, these are the colours of an Ontario morning: mist rising off a northern lake, or the reflective glass of downtown towers catching first light. They feel grounded and forward-looking at the same time. There are no colonial design cues here. This is a flag for the 21st century—confident, inclusive, and rooted in the province as it actually exists today.
Symbols tell us who we are and who we aspire to become. Mike Pearson understood this when he championed a new Canadian flag. The maple leaf gave us a fresh visual identity we could all rally around, and our country is better off for it. Ontario needs a similar moment of renewal. Our current flag is too easily confused with Manitoba's and feels disconnected from the lived reality of millions—newcomers building lives in Brampton or Mississauga, families cottageing on Georgian Bay, or entrepreneurs in tech hubs and manufacturing towns alike.
The Adams Pale creates a visual conversation between our wild roots and our concrete heights. It acknowledges that Ontario is both canopy and skyline, both wilderness and metropolis. It doesn't ask us to choose. Instead, it invites us to see both as essential.
Of course, no single design will please everyone. Flags are inherently subjective. But this proposal begins with an honest question: what represents the Ontario we know? For me, living in the GTA, that meant a design language that feels modern, balanced, and true to the province's dual identity.
It's time for Ontario to update its most visible symbol. Not to forget where we came from, but to better reflect where we are—and where we're going. A flag for the 21st century, designed with the province we actually live in firmly in mind. I believe Ontario is ready to spark a broader conversation about how we see ourselves.
This piece was written by an individual contributor and reflects the editorial position of The Provincial Times. Read our Content Policy here.
