Today is the second-annual Provincial Flag Day across the province of Saskatchewan, marking the 48th anniversary of the province's current flag, which was originally adopted in 1969.

"It was so fantastic (to have the day proclaimed) and the thrill that it's all given me now, years and years and years after designing the flag and it's brought it back to life," Anthony Drake, creator of the Saskatchewan flag said. "And it's brought me back to life as well. It's really an event that not many people get to experience."

The former Hodgeville resident created the flag as one of his 13 submitted designs in a province-wide competition the government held in the fall of 1968 as the province was seeking a visual identity.

"The lower half of the flag - the yellow half - represents the wheat fields," Drake explained Thursday morning from the United Kingdom during a phone interview. "The green half at the top represents the northern forest. The shield itself is part of the Saskatchewan coat of arms, so I thought that was essential and the Prairie Lily is the official provincial flower."

He chose to use coloured paper and cut out his designs instead of painting them, believing this was the best way for them to look realistic and standout.

Drake obtained an acknowledgement from the government that they had received his designs, but didn't hear anything else about the contest for months.

In April of 1969 he received a phone call from CKSW 570 while on coffee break at Hodgeville School, informing him he had won the contest.

"I actually couldn't think of anything to say," he recalled. "I was so stunned that I sort of went into kind of a dream about it until it actually registered what I had really achived. I can't put words to it."

Drake and his family moved back to England shortly after finding out he won the competition, missing the celebration and festivities on September 22, 1969.

He was able to relive these festivities in May of 2016 when he spent three weeks touring the province.

Gail Hapanowicz set up the tour around the province for him and was also instrumental in making the Provincial Flag Day a reality for Drake - something that still hasn't sunk in.

"It's mind blowing, it's something I know exists, but it's almost not a reality. It's something you could dream about," he said. "I find it very difficult to just take it in my stride. It's just like magic, an event that has happened in my life."