The man who designed Saskatchewan's flag is returning to the place where he first conceived of the idea - in the village of Hodgeville.

Anthony Drake is now 74 years old and living in England. He was recently contacted by Gail Hapanowicz who moved to Hodgeville three years ago from Calgary with her husband to convert the high school into an inn, and learned of its rich heritage.

"I researched and discovered that the Saskatchewan flag was designed right here in Hodgeville, right in my school actually because it was designed by an English teacher who came over in 1967-1969. There was a contest with 4025 entries, he entered, and his design won."

After more than a year of trying to locate Drake, a local Hodgeville that once taught with Drake was able to provide a phone number.

"The very first thing that I asked him was what made you choose the design that you did. He actually submitted fourteen designs but this one he remembers and  he said that he thought it was the obvious one," Hapanowicz said. "Because he thought the green was for the forest, the yellow was for the wheat, and he's British so they always use coats or arms - and the lily, of course because it's our flower. It's just common sense, he said."

Anthony Drake will be visiting Hodgeville between May 10 and May 31st, and will include stops in Cabri, Swift Current, Herbert, Assiniboia, Gravelbourg Moose Jaw, Saskatoon, and Regina to greet the legislature and the Lieutenant Governor. More details are forthcoming.

Hapanowicz has created the Home of the Saskatchewan Flag Foundation and would greatly appreciate any contributions to make Drake's tour a success.


To hear the full interview with Gail Hapanowicz, click HERE.

 

The Hodgeville Hub is the former high school, now an inn run by Gail and Mirek Hapanowicz.

 

A receipt for the $1000 prize that Anthony Drake received for designing the Saskatchewan flag.

The original flag drawing that was submitted to the local newspaper in 1969.