This year National Flag of Canada Day is on Friday, February 15th marking 54 years since the inauguration of the maple leaf flag as we know it. To celebrate our nation’s flag it will be flown from buildings, and discussed in schools, but what else can we do to observe Flag Day?

As seniors are likely to remember the flag’s inauguration in 1965, and possibly have more leisure time, here are five ideas to do something more to mark the occasion.

1. Raise the Flag
Probably the most obvious way to mark Flag Day is to hoist your own Canadian Flag. But why not use it as an excuse to add to your neighbourhood and erect your own front yard flag pole? If you do not have your own yard there are still lots of ways to display the flag, however. If you live in an apartment you could hang the flag from a balcony, or window, or for a different look, hang bunting between windows or across a porch. For a fun twist you could even display a flag on your car with rear window flag attachments. Think about how to wear the flag. A button or pin is the discreet way to wear it, but you could even consider incorporating the red and white of the flag into your outfit for the day to make more of a statement. This idea is also fun for grandchildren who want to get more involved in Flag Day.

2. Bake a Cake
Why not get crafty in the kitchen, and make a cake decorated with red and white icing in the shape of the maple leaf flag? Delight your family or colleagues with a Flag Day treat to help commemorate the day, in a particularly tasty way.

3. Take a Trip
As Flag Day is a day of national pride, you could decide to take a trip to your nearest city and discover more about the history of the country. Or if you have more time on your hands, why not plan an excursion somewhere further afield in Canada, that you have always meant to visit and make a real memorable trip of it.

4. Offer your Experience
As schools and businesses are open on Flag Day, you could consider getting in touch with local education and care settings and offering to help out on the day. Many schools will be running Flag themed events and lessons, and would welcome the extra help. Perhaps you could offer to talk with students about the history of the country’s flag, or for younger children in nurseries you could help out with flag making crafts.
Alternatively many care homes run similar activities for their residents and would welcome an extra pair of hands to help with crafts or social events.

5. Host a party for the Grandkids
Children love to celebrate an event, and what better than a flag-themed event with treats to eat, decorated with mini Canadian Flags, decorations and red and white balloons, music from Canada’s best artists, and themed games like ‘pin the maple leaf on the flag.’ You could suggest the children wear red and white, and provide party hats for them. Whilst you all enjoy the treats, you can invite them to tell each other what they’ve learned at school about the maple leaf flag.