Colonel George Francis Gillman Stanley, CC, CD, KStJ, DPhil, DLitt, FRSC, FRHistS, FRHSC(Hon) (July 6, 1907 – September 13, 2002) was a Canadian historian, author, soldier, teacher, public servant, and a designer of the current Canadian flag. During the Second World War, he served as a historian in the Historical Section at Canadian Army Headquarters in London; he was also responsible for administering the War Artist Program. Stanley was discharged as a Lieutenant-Colonel in 1947. He then taught at the University of British Columbia, holding the first ever chair in Canadian history in Canada. In 1949, Stanley went to teach at the Royal Military College of Canada, where he remained for twenty years. In 1982, he became the 25th Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick since Confederation and served in this capacity until 1987.

In 1976, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and was promoted to Companion in 1994. He also received a Knight of Justice of the Order of St John, the Canadian Forces Decoration and twelve honorary degrees, as well as his five earned degrees. He was a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC) and of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS). In 1983 he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada (FRHSC(Hon)).

On March 23, 1964, Stanley wrote a formal memorandum to his friend John Matheson, a prominent member of the multi-party parliamentary flag committee, suggesting that the new flag of Canada should be instantly recognizable, and simple enough so that school children could draw it. He drew a rough sketch of his design on the bottom of the letter. Two months before the Great Flag Debate erupted on May 17, 1964 with Prime Minister Lester Pearson's courageous—or strategic—speech at the Royal Canadian Legion's national convention in Winnipeg, Matheson had paid a visit to Stanley at Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in Kingston. Over lunch at the RMC mess hall, the two discussed heraldry, the history and the future of Canada, and the conundrum of the flag. And as the two men walked across the parade grounds, Stanley gestured toward the roof of the Mackenzie Building,[3] and the college flag flapping at its peak.

"There, John, is your flag," Stanley remarked, suggesting the RMC College flag's red-white-red as a good basis for a distinctive Canadian flag.

Honours

• 1994 Companion of the Order of Canada
• 1976 Officer of the Order of Canada
• 1983 Honourary Fellow, Royal Heraldry Society of Canada