The Story of Canada's Flag
Provincial Flags
Those provinces which have their own provincial flags include Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Newfoundland and British Columbia.
The various provincial flags may be described, in simple terms, as follows:
(a) Nova Scotia-"The breadth of the flag is three-quarters of the length; the ground is white and on it is a Saltire Azure, namely a blue St. Andrew's Cross; on the Saltire Azure is the inescutcheon of the Royal Arms of Scotland, that is to say, a gold shield on which is a red lion rampant, within a red double border, a red fleur-de-lis being on each corner of the border and one between each corner-eight in all."
This flag was first authorized by the charter of New Scotland granted in 1621 to Sir William Alexander by King James VI of Scotland and I of England. It was flown at the masthead of Nova Scotian ships until after confederation, when it largely fell into disuse. It was revived again on January 19, 1929 by royal warrant. The design of the flag is practically the same as the arms of the baronets of Nova Scotia without the supporters or the crest.
(b) New Brunswick-The flag is similar to the coat of arms of the province in the form of a rectangle instead of a shield. The upper portion of the flag consists of a gold lion guardant passant on a red field; the lower portion contains a galley or lymphad with oars in action proper on waves, with a gold background.
At the time of Confederation Queen Victoria assigned coats of arms to the four original provinces by royal warrant dated May 26, 1868. In each warrant it was stated that the armorial bearings should be borne "on seals, banners, flags or otherwise according to the laws of Arms. This is the authority for the flying of the New Brunswick flag. On 16 February, 1965 the government of New Brunswick announced its intention of reactivating its provincial flag. This was done by Royal Proclamation dated February 24, 1965.
(c) Prince Edward Island-The flag consists of that part of the armorial bearings of the province contained in the shield. It is rectangular in shape with a narrow fringe or band of uniform depth consisting of alternate rectangular renderings of red and white, commencing with red at the top dexter. The chief and charge, a lion guardant passant or on a red background, occupies the upper one-third and the remainder of the armorial bearings occupies the lower two-thirds. On it are a green island bearing on the left a large oak tree and on the right three oak saplings sprouting on a silver ground.
This flag was authorized by provincial statute, March 24, 1964.
(d) Quebec-The flag is generally referred to as the fleurdelis6 flag. It consists of a white cross on a sky blue ground, with one fleur-delis in vertical position in white, in each blue quarter.
This flag was authorized by Order-in Council January 21, 1948, and was confirmed by provincial statute March 9, 1948.
(e) Ontario-The flag is a variation of the red ensign. It is a flag in proportions two by length and one by width, with the Union Jack occupying the upper quarter next the
staff and with a shield of the armorial bearings of the province on the half farthest from the staff. The background is red of the same shade authorized for use in the Canadian flag.
This flag was authorized by provincial statute and was put into use by Royal Proclamation May 21, 1965.
(f) Manitoba-The provincial flag is similar to the Ontario flag in that it consists of the red ensign bearing the provincial coat of arms on the fly. The flag is of the proportions two by length and one by width, with the Union Jack occupying the upper quarter next the staff and with the shield of the armorial bearings of the province of Manitoba centred in the farthest half from the staff. The red is the official Admiralty colour code No. T 1144 for nylon worsted bunting and No. T 818A for other bunting.
This design was approved by Act of the provincial legislature, 11 May, 1965. It is to come into official use on a day to be fixed by proclamation. This proclamation has not yet been issued.
(g) Saskatchewan-Saskatchewan does not possess an official provincial flag. The red and green banner, bearing a golden stem of
skim wheat on the left next the staff, and the provincial coat of arms on the fly, was selected as a jubilee-Centennial flag, rather than as the official flag of the province.
(h) Alberta-This province does not have an official provincial flag.
(i) British Columbia-The flag of this province comprises the arms of the province as approved by King Edward VII, 31 March, 1906, that is to say "Argent three Bars wavy Azure issuant from the base a demi Sun in splendour proper on a Chief the Union Device charged in the centre point with an Antique Crown Or." This flag was authorized for display, 22 June, 1960, by an Order-in-Council of the provincial government of British Columbia.
(j) Newfoundland-A National Flag Act was passed 15 May, 1931, stating that the Union Flag was the "national flag" of Newfoundland. The Act also provided for the use by vessels registered in Newfoundland of a red ensign with the Union Flag in the upper canton next the staff and the "badge" of Newfoundland in the centre of the fly on a white circular ground. The "badge" consisted of a representation of the god Mercury presenting to Britannia a fisherman in a kneeling position, offering the harvest of the sea. Above this device in a scroll are the words Terra Nova and below a motto Haec Tibi Dona Fero. This Act appears in the Consolidated Statutes of Newfoundland, 1952.
Authority for the Lieutenant-Governor to use the Union Flag with the badge of Newfoundland in a white roundel surrounded with a green garland, in the centre of the Flag, on land as well as when embarked on a ship, was granted by an amendment to the National Flag Act in 1954.
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