Regina Leader Post
September 23, 1969. p.1
By MARY ANN FITZGERALD
Staff Reporter
Saskatchewan ran its first official flag up the flagpole Monday, but with a pledge the "the flag of Canada must always take precedence."
The province's official flag---the Saskatchewan coat of arms and a prairie lily on a green and gold field---was officially dedicated in an hour-long ceremony in the legislative chamber.
The flag, although flying in the face of tradition to the extent that it did not gain approval from Britain's College of Arms, was chosen by a free vote in the legislature from 4,025 designs submitted in a contest by Saskatchewan and former Sasktchewan residents. It was designed by Anthony Drake, a British school teacher who taught at Pontiex and Hodgeville for three years, prior to returning to England this summer to continue his studies.
Lt.-Gov. R. L. Hanbidge, who presided at the dedication ceremony, noted that the 84-year old province was now adopting "the time honored custom of a nation and a state to adopt a flag as its emblem."
The flag stands for democratic government, law and order, freedom of speech and worship, the lieutenant-governor said.
Saskatchewan, which joined Confederation on Sept. 1, 1905, is the last province to adopt an official flag. Hon. J. E. Snedker, Speaker of the province's legislative assembly, read the proclamation making the flag official.
The flag was then run up a flagpole placed at the front of the legislative chamber and "O Canada" was played.
Premier Thatcher, whose government set up an all-party legislative committee to choose "a distinctive flag" for the province, said it should fly "as a symbol of our determination to build an even better Saskatchewan for future generations."
Some might have preferred a different design, he said.
"Nevertheless, our flag has been selected by a free vote of the elected members of our legislature. I hope it will be given the respect and allegience it deserves. May I as premier emphasize the Canadian flag must always and will always take precedence," the premier said.
With poverty, hunger, misery and strife, existing in many parts of the world "we realize how fortunate we in Saskatchewan really are. . . . Let us dedicate our new flag today, determined that it will fly over a province where freedom and justice prevail; and where economic oppotunity is available to all," Mr. Thatcher said.
W. G. Davies (NDP--Moose Jaw South), representing the Opposition and vice-chairman of the legislature's flag committee, saw the flag as a symbol of the hard-working pioneers from many lands who transferred a stubborn and extreme land int "a living, thriving community."
Mr. Davies was subtituting for Opposition Leader Lloyd who was keeping a long standing committment out of the city.
"I hope the flag will remind us that we in Saskatchewan, in Canada and in this world, share common hopes and common aspirations. Let this flag be further dedicated to the family of man," he said.
Indian, Ukrainian and German dancers performed in the chamber at the close of the ceremonies to mark the occasion.
