Alder Tea and a New Moon Aird, Paul, October 2019.

Reflections on searching for and finding Kirtland's Warbler in Ontario and Quebec, 1976-2016   Aird, Paul L. Ontario Birds, August 2018.

Red Squirrels Know Aird, Paul L, 2017

Logging and rafting square timber in Ontario and Quebec for shipment to Great Britain circa 1870 to 1908 Aird, Paul L. The Forestry Chronicle, Vol. 92 No. 4, 2016.

Earth Tales: 3 Ecofables for Children   Aird, Paul L. et al. 2009. Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development (CANVAS) and the University of Santa Tomas, Manila, the Philippines. http://www.canvas.ph

Growing Trees from Seed: A practical guide to growing native trees,vines and shrubs Kock, Henry, with Paul Aird, John Ambrose and Gerald Waldron. Richmond Hill, Ontario, Firefly Books. 2008. 

Heritage, natural heritage, cultural heritage and heritage tree defined     Aird, Paul L. The Forestry Chronicle, Vol. 81. No 4. July/August 2005. 

Cultural Attitudes to Culturing the Forest Aird, Paul L. Regenerating the Canadian Forest: Principles and Practice for Ontario, Markham, Ontario, Fitzhenry & Whiteside. 2001.

The Saw-whet Owl Song Aird, Paul L, 2001

A mighty tree falls in the forest Jones, Frank. The Toronto Star, July 14, 1997.

Turn off the lights Aird, Paul L.  The Globe and Mail, Jan. 4, 1995.

Conservation for the sustainable development of forests worldwide: a compendium of concepts and terms Aird, Paul L. The Forestry Chronicle, Vol. 70. No 6. November/December 1994.

The bloody business of bear baiting Aird, Paul. The Globe and Mail, Sept. 2, 1992.

Canada's Fractious Flag:  A Visual Illusion    Aird, Paul L. Reprinted from Policy Options, p.19, May 1992.

Cross-country fable Aird, Paul L. The Globe and Mail, Oct. 3, 1989.

In Praise of Pine: The eastern white pine and red pine timber harvest from Ontario's Crown forest Aird, Paul L. Information Report PI-X-52, Petawawa National Forestry Institute, Canadian Forestry Service, 1985.

Wildlife setback rates dialogue Aird, Paul L.  The Globe and Mail,  Feb. 12, 1985.

A dead end for migrating birds    Weir, Ronald and Aird, Paul L. Globe and Mail, September 25, 1981.

When looking at the centre of Canada’s national flag, most people see the figure of a red leaf on a white background.  Others perceive two white human faces silhouetted on a red background.  The maple leaf is a familiar Canadian image.  It is much more familiar than two faces in profile, tilted to touch at the forehead.

The normal tendency is to recognize the central red leaf as the “figure” and to suppress the white surface as the “ground.”  This tendency is enhanced by the fact that the figure is completely surrounded by the ground.  It seems that people are more inclined to identify a surface as the figure if it is surrounded by a frame.

The tendency to recognize the two faces on Canada’s flag may be enhanced simply by learning that the image exists.  It can also be enhanced by folding the flag down from the top and up from the bottom, to expose only the blade of the leaf, or by filling the cheeks on the flag in a gentle breeze.  It would be more convincing, but offensive, to draw an eye on each face.

The outline that separates the red and white surfaces in the central block of the flag defines either the leaf or the two faces, but not both.  If the leaf is seen, the faces are invisible; if the faces are seen, the leaf is invisible.

It is impossible for the leaf and the faces to be perceived at the same time.  Instead, the images will be seen to shift from one to the other, repeatedly.  This figure-ground reversal of images is the essence of the visual illusion in our flag.

The two faces appear to be involved in an argument.  It is interesting to speculate why.

The spectre of two fractious faces flying over Parliament is haunting.  The subliminal influence of Canada’s national flag could account for many evil outcomes, ranging from Canada’s current constitutional dilemma to maple dieback.

Other images may be created on the flag simply by changing the shape of the outline between the red leaf and the white surface.  By extending the tip of the left and the right leaf lobes in gentle curves upward, the familiar leaf remains and the two cranky Canadians adopt contented smiles.  The same effect may be seen when the flag flutters in a wind.

It now becomes interesting to speculate why the two faces are smiling.

I surmise that these two esteemed parliamentarians are nodding in agreement to their plan to enshrine a conservation clause in the Constitution of Canada.  The clause will acknowledge the principle that our governments, when developing laws, policies and programs, will strive to sustain the nation’s productive capacity and the biodiversity of all species cohabiting our share of the biosphere.

The maple leaf forever, in Canada’s flag and in Canada’s Constitution.