"The Fleurdelisé that flew over the Saint-Jude presbytery on September 26, 1902, was made by Father Elphège Filiatrault, who proclaimed, “We are a new people on American soil. A new people need a new flag.” (NOTE 3) Borrowing from the Carillon banner the blue field that it was thought at the time to have had, and replacing the royal arms and the Madonna by a white cross that evoked France, Filiatrault’s flag was meant to represent French-Canadian values.
At the same time, two Flag Committees were formed, one in Quebec City, the other in Montreal. These committees also proposed adoption of the blue flag with fleurs-de-lis inspired by the Carillon banner, but they urged that a Sacred Heart be added at the centre, surrounded by maple leaves and bearing the motto “Je me souviens” (I remember). The committees, under the name L’oeuvre du drapeau national, launched an intense promotion of this flag, called the Carillon-Sacré-Coeur. In two years 8,500 brochures, 15,000 post cards, 60,000 badges, 20,000 engravings, 150,000 buttons and signs and 76,500 flags of various sizes were sold. " Source
"In 1903, the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus above two wreaths of maple leaves in saltire, was placed in the centre of the white cross.
The Sacred Heart image derives from the devotions fo the heart of Jesus, initiated by the French visionary nun, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. This Catholic practice had increased considerably by the 200th anniversary of her death in 1890." Source
