Great Canadian Flag Debate a blue background. Pearson preferred this choice, as the blue bars reflected Canada's motto, "From Sea to Sea". On June 15, 1964, Pearson opened the parliamentary flag debate with a resolution: Pearson sought to produce a flag which embodied history and tradition, but he also wanted to excise the Union Jack as a reminder of Canada's heritage and links to the United Kingdom. Hence, the issue was not whether the maple leaf was pre-eminently Canadian, but rather whether the nation should exclude the British-related component from its identity. Diefenbaker led the opposition to the Maple Leaf flag, arguing for the
Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 1964 Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 1964 Belgium was represented by Robert Cogoi, with the self-penned song '"Près de ma rivière", at the 1964 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 21 March in Copenhagen. For the first time since the inaugural contest of 1956, both singer and song were chosen internally by broadcaster RTB. On the night of the final Cogoi performed 15th in the running order, following Switzerland and preceding Spain. Only an audio recording of Cogoi's performance survives as it is believed that the video master of the 1964 contest was lost in a fire at the