The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear, The Maple Leaf forever! God save our King, and Heaven bless, The Maple Leaf forever! From The Maple Leaf Forever by Alexander Muir

MAPLE LEAF
Recognized nationally and internationally as distinctly Canadian, the maple leaf has long been a proud symbol of our country. The confederation song The Maple Leaf Forever was written in 1867, and it became Canada's national song for several decades. Canadian soldiers in the First World War and Second World War sported maple-leaf-shaped badges and insignias - proudly. Canadians travelling abroad wear similar pins and badges to identify, without words, their origin.

A NEW DESIGN
The newly-designed maple leaf definitive is similar to last year's (December 28, 2000) but with a colour change. Last year's design featured a green leaf overlapping a yellow leaf which in turn overlapped a red leaf - reflecting the progression of a maple leaf through the seasons. This year's design features the three overlapping leaves in light-green, mid-green, and dark green to show the progression of a new maple leaf in spring through its maturation in summer. The stamp bears the new domestic rate ($0.48).