Saskatchewan flag designer to return for 50th anniversary events

The Saskatchewan flag’s 50th anniversary this year will be celebrated at a Roughriders’ football game, among other events.

Gail Hapanowicz, a Hodgeville bed and breakfast owner, told the 49x110 tourism conference in Swift Current the game will be held on July 6 with a presentation at half-time.

Attending the presentation will be Anthony Drake, the man whose winning entry was chosen as the Saskatchewan flag 50 years ago by a committee of eight judges. Drake, now living in England, was a school teacher at Hodgeville when he entered the contest. Hapanowicz arranged in 2016 for a whirlwind 21 days of events and a tour of Saskatchewan with Drake. “We wanted something bigger than 2016. What can be bigger than a presentation in front of 23,000 people?” Since then she has written to the Queen asking her to “bestow in any way she can on Anthony Drake who designed a flag for her Commonwealth country Canada.” The Queen responded and requested information for the Saskatchewan lieutenant-governor and the observation.

Also planned are Drake’s appearance at the Saskatchewan Airshow in Moose Jaw on July 7 and hopefully a session with rock star Burton Cummings. A time capsule is planned as well.

Percy Schmeiser of Bruno is the only one of the eight flag judges still alive. Hapanowicz is arranging for Drake to meet him.

“I think it will be a special historical event to have the last person living from the flag committee meet Anthony Drake.”

Drake had returned to England by the time the flag was introduced.

Aged 75 in 2016, Drake was in Moose Jaw for a flag raising ceremony.