List of Canadian flags
This is a list of flags used in Canada. The Department of Canadian Heritage lays out protocol guidelines for the display of flags, including an order of precedence; these instructions are only conventional, however, and are generally intended to show respect for what are considered important symbols of the state or institutions.[1] The Queen's personal standard is supreme in the order of precedence, followed by those for the monarch's representatives (depending on jurisdiction), the personal flags of other members of the Royal Family,[2] and then the national flag and provincial flags.
Many museums across Canada display historic flags in their exhibits. The Canadian Museum of History, in Hull, Quebec has many culturally important flags in their collections. Settlers, Rails & Trails Inc., in Argyle, Manitoba holds the 2nd largest exhibit - known as the Canadian Flag Collection.
Royal
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1962–present | Royal Standard of Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada | A banner of the Royal Arms of Canada defaced with a royal cypher of Queen Elizabeth II | |
2011–present | Royal Standard of Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales | A banner of the Royal Arms of Canada defaced with the Prince of Wales's feathers and a 3-point label. | |
2011–present | Royal Standard of Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge | A banner of the Royal Arms of Canada defaced with the royal cypher of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and a 3-point label with one red scallop, representing the coat of arms of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. | |
2013–present | Royal Standard of Princess Anne, Princess Royal | A banner of the Royal Arms of Canada defaced with the royal cypher of the Princess Anne, Princess Royal, and a 3-point label with one heart in the centre, and the other two, Saint-George's crosses. | |
2014–present | Royal Standard of Prince Andrew, the Duke of York | A banner of the Royal Arms of Canada defaced with the royal cypher of the Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and a 3-point label with an anchor in the centre and the other two, blank. | |
2014–present | Royal Standard of Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex | A banner of the Royal Arms of Canada defaced with the royal cypher of the His Royal Highness the Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and a 3-point label with a Tudor Rose in the centre and the other two, blank. | |
2015–present | Royal Standard for other members of the Royal Family | A banner of the Royal Arms of Canada surrounded by an ermine border | |
Viceregal and administrative
Governor general
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1981–1999 2002–present | Flag of the Governor General of Canada | A blue field with the crest of the Royal Arms of Canada charged in the centre |
Lieutenant governors
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1981–present | Standard of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario | A blue field with the shield of the coat of arms of Ontario, ensigned with a St. Edward's Crown and surrounded a wreath of by ten golden maple leaves, charged in the centre | |
1952–present | Standard of the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec | A blue field with the shield of the coat of arms of Quebec, ensigned with a Tudor Crown and within a white disc, charged in the centre | |
1929–present | Standard of the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia | The Royal Union Flag defaced with the shield of the coat of arms of Nova Scotia on a white disc and surrounded by a chain of green maple leaves | |
1982–present | Standard of the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick | A blue field with the shield of the coat of arms of New Brunswick, ensigned with a St. Edward's Crown and surrounded by a wreath of ten golden maple leaves, charged in the centre | |
1984–present | Standard of the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba | A blue field with the shield of the coat of arms of Manitoba, ensigned with a St. Edward's Crown and surrounded by a wreath of ten golden maple leaves, charged in the centre | |
1982–present | Standard of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia | A blue field with the shield of the coat of arms of British Columbia, ensigned with a St. Edward's Crown and surrounded by a wreath of ten golden maple leaves, charged in the centre | |
1981–present | Standard of the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island | A blue field with the shield of the coat of arms of Prince Edward Island, ensigned with a St. Edward's Crown and surrounded by a wreath of ten golden maple leaves, charged in the centre | |
1981–present | Standard of the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan | A blue field with the shield of the coat of arms of Saskatchewan, ensigned with a St. Edward's Crown and surrounded by a wreath of ten golden maple leaves, charged in the centre | |
1981–present | Standard of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta | A blue field with the shield of the coat of arms of Alberta, ensigned with a St. Edward's Crown and surrounded by a wreath of ten golden maple leaves, charged in the centre | |
1987–present | Standard of the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador | A blue field with the shield of the coat of arms of Newfoundland and Labrador, ensigned with a St. Edward's Crown and surrounded by a wreath of ten golden maple leaves, charged in the centre |
Commissioners
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
2006–present | Standard of the Commissioner of Northwest Territories | A blue field with the shield of the Coat of arms of the Northwest Territories, surrounded by a wreath of six gold maple leaves and two flowers, charged in the centre | |
2007–present | Standard of the Commissioner of Yukon | A blue field with the shield of the coat of arms of Yukon, surrounded by a wreath of six gold maple leaves and two flowers, charged in the centre | |
2009–present | Standard of the Commissioner of Nunavut | A blue field with the shield of the coat of arms of Nunavut, surrounded by a wreath of six gold maple leaves and two flowers, charged in the centre |
Civil and state
National
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1965–present | National Flag of Canada (Maple Leaf Flag, l'Unifolié) | A vertical bicolour triband of red, white, red with a red maple leaf emblem charged in the Canadian pale |
Ceremonial
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1965–present | Royal Union Flag | National flag of the United Kingdom. The Cross of St. Andrew counterchanged with the Cross of St. Patrick and over all the Cross of St. George. |
Provincial
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1965–present | Flag of Ontario | A red field with the Royal Union Flag in the canton and the shield of the coat of arms of Ontario charged in the fly | |
1948–present | Flag of Quebec (The Fleurdelisé) | A blue field with an ordinary white cross and a white fleur-de-lis in each quadrant | |
1858–present | Flag of Nova Scotia | A banner of the coat of arms of Nova Scotia | |
1965–present | Flag of New Brunswick | A banner of the coat of arms of New Brunswick | |
1965–present | Flag of Manitoba | A red field with the Royal Union Flag in the canton and the shield of the coat of arms of Manitoba charged in the fly | |
1960–present | Flag of British Columbia | A banner of the coat of arms of British Columbia | |
1964–present | Flag of Prince Edward Island | A banner of the coat of arms of Prince Edward Island within a bordure compony of red and white | |
1968–present | Flag of Alberta | A blue field with the shield of the coat of arms of Alberta charged in the centre | |
1969–present | Flag of Saskatchewan | A field party per fess, green and yellow, with the shield of the coat of arms of Saskatchewan in the canton and western red lily emblem charged in the fly | |
1980–present | Flag of Newfoundland and Labrador | A blue and white field party per pale (at nombril point) with a white border, white ordinary cross and white saltire, two triangular divisions in the fly lined in red, a golden arrow between two triangular divisions |
Territorial
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1969–present | Flag of the Northwest Territories | A vertical bicolour triband of blue, white, blue with the shield of the coat of arms of the Northwest Territories charged in the Canadian pale | |
1968–present | Flag of Yukon | A vertical tricolour triband of green, white, blue with the shield of the coat of arms of Yukon above a wreath of fireweed charged in the Canadian pale | |
1999–present | Flag of Nunavut | A field party per pale, yellow and white, with a red inukshuk charged in the centre and a blue star in the upper fly |
Regional (unofficial)
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1832–present | Patriote flag | The proposed flag of Republic of Lower Canada in 1838, still used nowadays by some souverainists, in mostly 4 variants: the original, and three versions with the yellow star in the top left corner. Of which, two of them have Henri Julien's Patriot painting of 1904, one in colour and the other stylised in black and white. | |
1837–1838 | Flag of the Republic of Canada | Two white stars representing the colonies of Upper and Lower Canada on the upper half with "LIBERTY" inscribed on the lower half. | |
1880s–present | Newfoundland Tricolour | A field tierced per pale green, white, and pink | |
1884–present | Flag of Acadia | A field tierced per pale, blue, white, and red, with a gold star in the upper hoist. Common in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. | |
1938–present | Flag of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean | A field party per fess, green and yellow, with a red-bordered grey ordinary cross; green represents the region's forests, yellow its agriculture, grey its industry and commerce, and red the vitality of the population | |
1974–present | Flag of Labrador | A field party per fess, white and azure, with a green horizontal band across the centre and a spruce twig in the upper hoist | |
1988–present | Flag of Vancouver Island | A Blue Ensign defaced with the great seal of the Colony of Vancouver Island. Used informally today.[3] This unofficial flag was designed in the 1980s to retroactively represent the colony (1849–1866). In 1865 the Crown gave colonies permission to place their badges on the fly of the Blue Ensign; thus vexillologists could argue that this flag is official.[4] | |
1988–present | Flag of Western Canada | Originally used by the Western Independence Party, it was designed in 1988 ahead of the party's first election. | |
1995-present | Flag of Cascadia | A horizontal triband of blue, white, and green, charged with a dark central silhouette of a single Douglas Fir tree. Unofficial flag of both the Cascadia bioregion and Cascadia independence movement, which includes British Columbia. | |
1993-present | Flag of Cape Breton Island | A field tierced per forest green and white, with a green saltire and yellow circle reading "Cape Breton Island" on the top, and "Canada" on the bottom, with a green stylized map of Cape Breton Island in the middle. The green is taken from the island's tartan. | |
2008–present | Flag of Gaelic Canadians | Adopted by the Comhairle na Gàidhlig (The Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia), the salmon represents the gift of knowledge in the Gaelic storytelling traditions of Nova Scotia, Scotland and Ireland and the Isle of Man. The “G” represents the Gaelic language and the ripples are the manifestations of the language through its rich culture of song, story, music, dance and custom and belief system. |
Indigenous nations
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
2013–present | Proposed flag of Nunavik | The bird with wings spread, reaching for the sky, represents self-governance and freedom. The large size of the wings represent strength. Each feather represents a community in Nunavik. The symmetry of the wings represent equality. The dot represents a head and mind fully supported by the body. The wings both have five feathers, representing the fingers of human hands, symbolic of pulling yourself up and pushing yourself forward. The wings are also similar to caribou antlers, which may represent protection. The two colours represent the co-existence of being and nature, which complement each other equally | |
2005–present | Flag of Nunatsiavut | A white field with a white, green, and blue inukshuk charged in the centre | |
2018–present | Flag of NunatuKavut | The flag features an ulu, a traditional Inuit knife used by women. Within the ulu image is a dog sled team, showing the importance of husky dogs, as well as a kudlik, a traditional seal oil lamp | |
Unknown–present | Flag of the Mi'kmaq Nation Grand Council | A white field with a red Latin cross and a red star and moon in the left quadrants; white denotes purity of creation, the red cross represents mankind and infinity, the sun and moon the forces of day and night,[5] the flag is meant to be displayed hanging vertically as shown here[6] | |
1980s–present | Flag of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy | A mauve field party per fess by a band of white squares joined and a stylized white "Tree of Peace" charged in the centre; design is adapted from the Hiawatha wampum belt, each element represents an original nation in the confederacy | |
Unknown–present | Flag of the Innu Nation | Horizontal bands of teal, white and light blue, within the blue sits a centre snowshoe flanked by reindeer skulls on both sides | |
Unknown–present | Flag of the Matimekush Band | A vertical tricolour triband of chartreuse, white, green with the coat of arms of the Matimekush Lac John Band charged in the Canadian pale | |
Unknown–present | Flag of the Anishinaabek | A black pictographic thunderbird on a white field | |
Mid-1980s–present | Flag of the Natuaqanek Band | A red field with yellow left and right borders, a quartered roundel charged in the centre[5] | |
Unknown–present | Flag of Ĩyãħé Nakón Mąkóce (Stoney Nakoda) | Stoney Nakoda flag | |
2005–present | Flag of the Ktunaxa Nation | Flag features a golden feathered staff on a brown field | |
Unknown–present | Flag of Secwepemcúl̓ecw | Flag features 17 feathers representing the 17 bands in the Secwépemc Nation. The feathers are mostly black, with a white portion in the middle. The white portion signifies those communities which were wiped out by disease and other trauma following contact | |
1980–present | Flag of the Nlaka'pamux Nation | Circle wreath of Nlaka'pamux pictographs set on a grey field | |
Unknown–present | Flag of the Haida Nation | A red field with an eagle and raven headed bird, surrounded by a circlet, charged in the centre | |
2012–present | Flag of Deisleen Ḵwáan, Lingít Aaní | Horizontally striped, red-white-red, 1-3-1, with five totems or emblems in the centre, from left to right: Kùkhhittàn (Raven Children), Ishklitàn (Frog), Yanyèdi (Wolf), Sèshitàn (Beaver), Dakhlʼawèdi (Eagle) | |
Unknown–present | Flag of the Tahltan Nation | Flag of Tahltan Kolīne representing the two clans: Crow (or Tseskʼiya) and Wolf (or Chʼioyone) | |
2001–present | Flag of the Nisg̱aʼa Nation | A vertical tricolour triband of black, white, and sanguine with the badge of the Nisga'a Nation,[7] surrounded by black and sanguine ovals, charged in the Canadian pale[8] | |
Pre-1816–present | Flag of the Métis Nation of Canada | A blue field with a white symbol of infinity charged in the centre (French descent) | |
Pre-1816–present | Flag of the Métis Nation of Alberta | A red field with a white symbol of infinity charged in the centre (British descent) |
Francophone peoples
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1884–present | Acadian flag | Tri-colored flag, blue, white then red. A yellow star representing independence and unique culture from main land France. | |
1975–present | Flag of the Franco-Ontarians | A field party per pale, green and white, with a white fleur-de-lys charged in the hoist and a green trillium emblem charged in the fly | |
1976–present | Flag of the Fransaskois | A yellow field with a green Nordic cross centred towards the upper hoist and a red fleur-de-lis charged in the lower fly | |
1980–present | Flag of the Franco-Manitobans | A white field with yellow over sanguine bars with a green plant emblem in four pieces charged in the hoist | |
1981–present | Flag of the Franco-Columbians | A white field party per pale by a bar gemelles and dancetty, a fleur-de-lys and Pacific Dogwood emblem charged in the fly; Dogwood is the floral emblem of British Columbia, the blue stripes evoke the Pacific Ocean and the rising mountains beside, the yellow centre of the Dogwood flower represents the sun | |
1982–present | Flag of the Franco-Albertans | A field party per bend sinister, blue and white, by a bend cotised white and blue with a white fleur-de-lys in the upper hoist and a red wild rose in the lower fly | |
1985–present | Flag of the Franco-Yukonnais | A blue field and three diagonal stripes set from lower hoist to upper fly. The colours of the stripes are white and golden yellow. The effect created by the arrangement of the stripes is meant to represent Yukon's many mountains. Blue is for the French people and the sky. White is for winter and snow. Yellow represents the gold rush and the Franco-Yukonnais contributions to history of the territory. | |
1986–present | Flag of the Fédération des Francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador (Franco-Terreneuviens) | Three unequal panels of blue, white, and red, with two yellow sails set on the line between the white and red panels. The sail on top is charged with a spruce twig, while the bottom sail is charged with a pitcher flower. | |
1992–present | Flag of the Franco-Ténois | A polar bear on a snowy hill, looking forward towards a snowflake/Fleur-de-lis combined, representing the French community of the Northwest Territories of Canada. | |
2002–present | Flag of the Franco-Nunavois | Blue that represents the Arctic sky and white recalls the snow, abundantly present on the territory. The principal shape represent an igloo, and under this one, the inukshuk which symbolise the human presence. A single dandelion flower grows from beneath it. |
Military, police, coast guard and border services
Canada Border Services Agency
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
2012–present | Flag of the Canada Border Services Agency | A Blue field with the National Flag of Canada in the canton and the Canada Border Services Agency badge charged in the fly |
Canadian Armed Forces
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1968–present | Flag of the Canadian Armed Forces | A white field with the National Flag of Canada in the canton and the Canadian Armed Forces badge charged in the fly | |
1968–present | Canadian Naval Ensign | A white field with the National Flag of Canada in the canton and the Royal Canadian Navy badge in blue charged in the fly | |
1968–present | Canadian Forces Auxiliary Jack | A blue field with the National Flag of Canada in the canton and the Royal Canadian Navy badge in white charged in the fly | |
2016–present | Flag of the Canadian Army | A scarlet red field with the National Flag of Canada in the canton and the Canadian Army badge charged in the fly | |
1982–present | Royal Canadian Air Force Ensign | A field of air force blue with the National Flag of Canada in the canton and the Royal Canadian Air Force roundel charged in the fly | |
c. 1964–present | Flag of the Canadian Navy Board | A field party per bend, blue and sanguine, with a fouled anchor in gold charged in the centre | |
1920–present | Flag of the Royal Military College of Canada | A field tierced per pale, red, white, and red with the badge of the Royal Military College of Canada charged in the centre | |
1920–present | Flag of the Royal Military College Saint-Jean | A field tierced per pale, blue, white, and blue with the badge of the Royal Military College Saint-Jean charged in the centre | |
2000–present | Banner of the Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendation | A field tierced per pale, blue, red, and azure, with the crest of the Royal Arms of Canada charged in the centre |
Coast Guard
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1962–present | Flag of the Canadian Coast Guard | A banner of the arms of the Canadian Coast Guard: vertical diband of white and blue, a red maple leaf emblem charged in the hoist and a pair of fish in gold and facing opposite directions charged in the fly |
Police
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1991–present | Ensign of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police | A red field with a blue canton bordered yellow with a representation of the Badge of the RCMP | |
1998-present | Flag of the Ontario Provincial Police | Blue with the heraldic badge of the OPP | |
Link | 1983–present | A green field, on a Canadian Pale Yellow charged with the badge of the Sûreté du Québec |
Canadian Cadet Organisations, Cadet Leagues and the Navy League Cadets
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1976–present[9] | Flag of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets | A white flag with a Canadian Flag at the canton, with the badge of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets at the fly. | |
1953–1976[9] | Former flag of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets | A white flag with a Union Flag at the canton, with the badge of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets at the fly. This is the basis of the current flag of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets. | |
2009-present[10] | Flag of the Navy League of Canada | A white flag with a Canadian Flag at the canton, with the current badge of the Navy League of Canada at the fly. | |
1971–present [11] | Ensign of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets | An Air Force blue flag, with a Canadian flag at the canton, with the historical badge of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. | |
1995–present | Flags of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets |
Municipal
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
2005–present | Flag of Barrie | Argent three bars gemel wavy Azure, on a chief Gules a naval crown between a winged wheel and a cog wheel Or | |
1999–present | Flag of Burlington | A vertical bicolour triband of blue, yellow, blue with the shield of the coat of arms of Burlington charged in the Canadian pale | |
1983–present | Flag of Calgary | A red field with white border at top and bottom, a combined 'C' and cowboy hat emblem in the hoist | |
?(c. 1973)–present | Flag of Cambridge | ||
1989–present | Flag of Charlottetown | A banner of the Arms — Argent on a square Vert joined at each corner with a smaller square Vert a representation of the coronation crown of Queen Charlotte Sophia of England proper — the three edges in chief fly and base charged with a bordure compony Vert and Argent | |
1959–present | Flag of Chibougamau | A white field with Chibougamau's Coat of Arms in the center. | |
1995–present | Flag of Cornwall | A vertical bicolour triband of gold, black, gold with the shield of the coat of arms of the Duke of Cornwall charged in the Canadian pale | |
2005–present | Flag of Delta | Vert a plate environed of a triangle voided of the field couped on each corner Argent | |
?–present | Flag of Dollard-des-Ormeaux | ||
1966–present | Flag of Edmonton | Incorporates the City of Edmonton Coat of Arms on a white field with two blue borders. Blue symbolizes strength and the North Saskatchewan River; white signifies peace. | |
2003–present | Flag of Fernie | Azure on a fess Or, its upper edge dancetty, three lozenges Sable. Fernie also has a second flag (not shown): Or the Badge of The Corporation of the City of Fernie, a canton of the Arms | |
1999–present | Flag of Gloucester | Or on a cross raguly Vert a maple leaf Or | |
1993–present | Flag of Guelph | Per fess Gules and Argent in dexter chief a horse's head erased Argent and in dexter base an ancient crown Gules | |
2003–present | Flag of Hamilton | A vertical bicolour triband of gold, blue, gold with a cinquefoil surrounded by a chain, all gold, charged in the Canadian pale | |
Link | 1996–present | Flag of Halifax | Azure a saltire Or and a bezant merged thereon a Kingfisher between four broad arrows points outward Azure in fess two sailing vessels tempore 1760 flags flying to the dexter Or. The principal charge identifies Halifax as the provincial seat of government; the four arms represent its predecessor municipalities. The kingfisher is drawn from the arms of the City of Halifax; the ships and arrows recall the emblems of Dartmouth and Bedford. |
2009–present | Flag of Kawartha Lakes | An orange-yellow sun, two evergreen trees, green rolling hills and blue water; the water is the Trent–Severn Waterway and surrounding lakes. | |
1999–present | Flag of Kingston | A banner Gules charged in base barry wavy of three Argent Azure and Argent set thereon dexter a Martello tower Argent in sinister chief three Eastern crowns two and one Or. | |
?–present | Flag of Laval | ||
1967–present | Flag of Lethbridge | Red and white striped, with blue and white pattern in top left corner. | |
2002–present | Flag of Lévis | A black and gold field with a white cross. | |
?–present | Flag of London | Municipal tree logo on a green background with white horizontal stripes. | |
2004–present | Flag of Longueuil | Azure three roses Or, on a chief Gules a crescent between two mullets Or | |
?–present | Flag of La Matapédia Regional County Municipality | Three colours flag (blue, green and white) showing mountains, a tree and a salmon. | |
1954–1997 | Flag of Metro Toronto | A horizontal bi-colour band of green and blue with a white ringed symbol from the seal of Metro Toronto; the six rings represented Metro Toronto's six constituent lower-tier municipalities: Etobicoke, York, North York, East York, Scarborough and the former city of Toronto | |
1974–present | Flag of Mississauga | ||
1935–1939 | Flag of Montreal | A red saltire on a white field, with a rose in the upper section (representing England), a beaver in the lower section (representing France and the voyageur fur trade), a thistle in the left section (representing Scotland), and a cluster of shamrocks in the right section (representing Ireland).[12] | |
1939–2017 | Flag of Montreal | A white field with a red ordinary cross, a blue fleur-de-lis (representing France), a Lancastrian rose (representing England), a thistle (representing Scotland), and a shamrock (representing Ireland), all proper, in each quadrant | |
2017–present | Flag of Montreal | A white field with a red cross bearing a white pine (representing the Iroquois/Haudenosaunee) in the centre, a blue fleur-de-lis (representing France), a Lancastrian rose (representing England), a thistle (representing Scotland), and a shamrock (representing Ireland), all proper, in each quadrant | |
1989–present | Flag of North Cowichan | Or on a pale Vert an inescutcheon of the Arms of the District of North Cowichan: Or on a fess raguly Vert between two bars wavy Azure a Pacific Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) naiant Argent between two dogwood flowers (Cornus nuttallii) also Argent seeded Or | |
Link | 1999–present | Flag of Oakville, Ontario | |
1902–1987 | Flag of Ottawa | A vertical 1:2 tricolour of purple, red, and blue | |
1987–2000 | Flag of Ottawa | Same as above, with the addition of the coat of arms of Ottawa in the middle | |
2000–present | Flag of Ottawa | Blue and azure, with a stylised 'O' representing both a maple leaf and the Peace Tower and Centre Block of the parliament buildings | |
1999–present | Flag of Peterborough | Vert a sword point downwards Argent pommel and hilt Or surmounted by a fess barry wavy of six Argent and Azure | |
2007–present | Flag of Pilot Butte | Plain white with a blue house, the house has a white silhouette of a family in it. Above the house is a yellow sun. The flag was adopted in 2007 for the 125th anniversary of Pilot Butte. | |
1980–present | Flag of Prince Albert | A vertical bicolour triband of green, gold, green with four green triangles in the centre. | |
1987–present | Flag of Quebec City | Azure an ancient ship under full sail Or within an embattled bordure Argent. The ship represents Samuel de Champlain's Don de Dieu; the background represents the city walls | |
1992–present | Flag of Regina | Azure a base Or in canton a representation of the Royal Crown Argent. | |
1986–present | Flag of Richmond | A field of gold, surrounded by a thick blue border. The centre is the shield, depicting three Pacific Salmon fish on a light blue wave running vertically down the shield. | |
1969–present | Flag of Scarborough | Field of white with blue stylized Scarborough Bluffs and waves of Lake Ontario, and a red maple leaf | |
?–present | Flag of Saint-Damien | ||
1955–present | Flag of Saint-Éphrem-de-Beauce | ||
1965–present | Flag of St. John's | John the Baptist is symbolised on the shield by the lamb, carrying a banner bearing St. George's Cross. The shield is supported on the left by John Cabot bearing the year (1497) of discovery. The supporter on the right is Sir Humphrey Gilbert, bearing the date 1583 that he founded the city and claimed Newfoundland for Queen Elizabeth of England. | |
Link | 1951[13]–2002 | Flag of Shawinigan | |
Link | 2002–present | Flag of Shawinigan | |
2003–present | Flag of Sudbury | Per fess sapiné Vert and Or, in dexter chief a mullet Or | |
1995–present | Flag of Summerside | ||
1999–present | Flag of Toronto | A blue field with a white stylised city hall and maple leaf emblem | |
1972–present | Flag of Thunder Bay | A maple leaf behind the sleeping giant with water below. | |
Link | ?–present | Flag of Timmins | A vertical bicolour triband of blue, white, blue with the seal of the City of Timmins (showing a gold nugget overlaying prospecting tools) charged in the pale |
1984–present | Flag of Trois-Rivières | From the top of a green square down a blue line that has three bordering two islands before reaching the river in the form of waves. | |
1983–present | Flag of Vancouver | The axe and paddle stand for the traditional industries, logging and fishing, and the green background is a symbol of the forests | |
Link | 1988-present | Flag of Vaughan | The flag was designed by a 15-year-old student from the city. The flag contains a white field, with four blue stripes - meant to represent the four main communities of Vaughan at the time: Kleinburg, Maple, Thornhill and Woodbridge. The four stripes join together at the centre of the flag inside a red maple leaf, in the same style as the national Canadian flag. |
1962–present | Flag of Victoria | Bleu-celeste the shield of Arms of the City of Victoria [Note: The arms depicted are incorrect (Azure on a pile Argent another Gules charged with the Royal Crown proper)] | |
1975–present | Flag of Winnipeg | The blue represents Winnipeg's clear blue sky, and the gold a field of wheat surrounding the city's coat of arms | |
1971–present | Flag of Windsor | Designed by an unknown citizen during a local contest, the flag includes the city seal along with a red rose; the blue and white represent the Detroit River and Saint Lawrence Seaway, respectively.[14] | |
Link | 1992–present[nb 1] | Flag of Windsor | Azure on a Canadian pale Argent the shield of Arms of the City of Windsor; Arms: Or on a pale between two roses Gules barbed Vert charged with a cogwheel Or a fleur de lys Or above a rose Or barbed Vert charged with a cogwheel Gules a chief undy Azure.[16] |
1971?–present | Flag of Yellowknife | The blue represents the clear blue waters of Yellowknife Bay and other bodies of water in and around Yellowknife, and the gold represents Yellowknife's gold mining heritage, with the city's crest in the pale | |
Crown corporations
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
?-present | Flag of the Royal Canadian Mint | A red field with the logo of the Royal Canadian Mint charged in the centre; logo was first introduced in 1978 |
Historical flags
National flags
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1957–1965 | Canadian Red Ensign, used as the de facto National Flag of Canada; unofficial. | Red Ensign defaced with the Royal Arms of Canada. The maple leaves at the bottom of the shield are red. | |
1921–1957 | Canadian Red Ensign, used as the de facto National Flag of Canada; unofficial. | Red Ensign defaced with the Royal Arms of Canada. The maple leaves at the bottom of the shield are green. | |
1868–1921 | Used as the de facto National Flag of Canada; unofficial. | Red Ensign defaced with the arms of the four original provinces of Canada. Nine Provinces version from 1907-1922 (https://fotw.info/flags/ca-9prov.html) | |
1904–1949 | The Dominion and Colony of Newfoundland's flag | Red Ensign defaced with the Great Seal of Newfoundland | |
1801–1965 | Canada's de jure flag until 1965 (when the current national was adopted), known as the Royal Union Flag | The Union Flag, the royal flag of the United Kingdom in use since 1801 | |
1763–1801 | Flag hoisted in most military installations in Quebec and later for both Upper Canada and Lower Canada | Flag used for the Province of Quebec from 1763 to 1791. | |
1789–1830 | Flag used in presence of the French Royal family as of 1789. | Flag used after restoration of the Monarchy in France from 1814-1830. | |
1715–1789 | Flag of the Kingdom of France used since Louis XIV. | Flag used along with the flags of French regiments. | |
1663–1715 | Flag of New France? Standard of King Louis XIV. | Flag seen in New France prior to the flag of the Kingdom of France. | |
1638–1790 | Naval flag of the Kingdom of France | Flag used on French war ships. | |
1689–1790 | Merchant marine flag on French ships from 1689 to 1790. | Flag used on French merchant ships. | |
1600–1689 | Merchant marine flag on French ships from 1600 to 1689. | Flag on Samuel de Champlain's ship. | |
1348–1707 | Flag of the Kingdom of England | Flag on John Cabot's ship, and used during the English colonisation of the Americas before the Act of Union. | |
1286–1707 | Flag of the Kingdom of Scotland | Flag used during the Scottish colonisation of the Americas before the Act of Union. |
Vice-regal flags
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1999–2002 | Flag of the Governor General | Modification ordered by the then Governor General of Canada, The Right Honourable Roméo LeBlanc. The tongue and the claws were removed to have a more polite look. Replaced by the previous flag. | |
1952–1981 | Flag of the Governor General | A lion standing on a St. Edward's crown, with the name "Canada" below. | |
1931–1952 | Flag of the Governor General | A lion standing on an Imperial/Tudor crown, with the name "Canada" below. | |
1921–1931 | Flag of the Governor General | The Union Jack, defaced with a white circle, at the center of which is the crowned shield of arms of Canada in 1921, surrounded by a wreath of stylized green maple leaves. | |
1901–1921 | Flag of the Governor General | The Union Jack, defaced with a white circle, at the center of which is the crowned shield of arms of Canada in 1869, surrounded by a wreath of stylized green maple leaves. | |
1869–1901 | Flag of the Governor General | The Union Jack, defaced with a white circle, at the center of which is the crowned shield of arms of Canada in 1869, surrounded by a wreath of stylized green maple leaves. | |
c. 1965–1981 | Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta | The Union Jack defaced with a white circle in the centre containing the arms of Alberta and surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves. | |
1870–1871 | Flag of the Governor of British Columbia | The Union Jack, defaced with a white circle surrounded by a laurel wreath, in which there is a crown surmounted by a lion with the letters "B" and "C" either side of it. | |
1871–1906 | Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia | The Union Jack defaced in the centre with a white circle surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves and containing a crown surmounted by a lion with the letters "B" and "C" either side of it. | |
1906–1982 | Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia | The Union Jack defaced in the centre with a white circle containing the arms and motto of British Columbia and surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves. | |
1870–1905 | Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba | The Union Jack defaced in the centre with a white circle containing the unofficial 1870 arms of Manitoba and surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves. | |
1905–1984 | Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba | The Union Jack defaced in the centre with a white circle containing the arms of Manitoba and surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves. | |
1870–1982 | Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick | The Union Jack defaced in the centre with a white circle containing the arms of New Brunswick and surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves. | |
1870–1904 | Flag of the Governor of Newfoundland | The Union Jack defaced with a white circle in the centre containing a crown over the words "TERRA NOVA" in red and surrounded by a laurel wreath. | |
1904–1975 | Flag of the Governor/Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland | The Union Jack defaced with the badge of Newfoundland in the centre surrounded by a laurel wreath. | |
1975–1987 | Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland | The Union Jack defaced in the centre with the badge of Newfoundland surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves. | |
1870–1929 | Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia | The Union Jack defaced in the centre with a white circle containing the 1868 arms of Nova Scotia and surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves. | |
1870–1959 1965–1981 | Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario | The Union Jack defaced in the centre with a white circle containing the arms of Ontario and surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves. | |
1959–1965 | Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario[17] | Reverted to a Union Jack with provincial badge 1965–1981. | |
1878–1905 | Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island | The Union Jack defaced in the centre with the badge of Prince Edward Island surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves. | |
1905–1981 | Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island | The Union Jack defaced in the centre with a white circle containing the arms and motto of Prince Edward Island and surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves. | |
1870–1939 | Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec | The Union Jack defaced in the centre with a white circle containing the 1868 arms of Quebec and surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves. | |
1939–1952 | Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec | The Union Jack defaced in the centre with a white circle containing the arms of Quebec and surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves. | |
1906–1981 | Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan | The Union Jack defaced in the centre with a white circle containing the arms of Saskatchewan and surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves. |
Military flags
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
RCN (1911–1965)
RCSCC (1905–1965) |
Used as the ensign of the Royal Canadian Navy and some Royal Canadian Sea Cadets corps. Used throughout the entire British Empire by the Royal Navy and by several former British colonies even after they became independent and established their own navies. | White Ensign, St George's Cross with the Union Flag in the canton. | |
RCN (1921–1957)
RCSCC (1929–1953) |
The Blue Ensign, worn as a jack by the Royal Canadian Navy and used by the RCSCC | Blue Ensign defaced with the Royal Arms of Canada. The maple leaves at the bottom of the shield are green. | |
1939–1944 | Canadian Army Battle Flag | White Ensign. Designed by Colonel Archer Fortescue Duguid, Director of Historical Section, General Staff, National Defence Headquarters. | |
1989–1998 | Force Mobile Command flag | ||
1957–1965 | Final version of the Blue Ensign, worn as a jack by the Royal Canadian Navy and as an ensign by royal yacht clubs in Canada | Blue Ensign defaced with the Royal Arms of Canada. The maple leaves at the bottom of the shield are red. | |
1941–1965 | Royal Canadian Air Force Ensign | A field of air force blue with the Union Flag in the canton and the Canadian roundel in the middle of the fly. | |
?−1965 | Based King's Colour, as used by the Royal Military College of Canada | King's Colour of the Royal Military College of Canada with the Union Flag. | |
Civil flags
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1922–1923 | Canadian Civil Aviation Ensign, briefly used by the Air Board. | A field of light blue with the Union Flag in the canton and a shield with white albatross superimposed upon three maple leaves in the middle of the fly. | |
Organizational flags
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1682–1707 | Flag of the Hudson's Bay Company | The English Red Ensign defaced with the initials of the company. | |
1707–1801 | Flag of the Hudson's Bay Company | The pre-1801 Red Ensign defaced with the initials of the company. | |
1801– | Flag of the Hudson's Bay Company | A Red Ensign defaced with the initials of the company. | |
pre–1801 | Flag of the North West Company | The pre-1801 Red Ensign defaced with the initials of the company. | |
c. 1801–1821 | Flag of the North West Company | A Red Ensign defaced with the initials of the company. |
Others/non-official flags
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1946 | Proposed Flag for Canada | A red British ensign defaced with a large golden maple leaf outlined in white in the fly. | |
1965 | Canadian flag proposal by the Native Sons of Canada | Party per bend Gules and Argent a maple leaf Gules | |
1965 | Proposed Flag for Canada, known as the Pearson Pennant | A blue field with a white square containing a three-leaf maple. The blue sides were meant to represent John A. Macdonald's description of the Canadian Pacific Railway and Canada's geography, "From sea to sea". | |
1994 | Proposed flag for Canada, known as the Canadian Unity Flag | Blue vertical stripes replacing part of the red bands, in approximate proportion to population of French heritage. |
University flags
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Link | ?–present | Flag of Acadia University | |
Link | ?–present | Flag of Athabasca University | |
Link | ?–present | Flag of the McGill University | Argent three Martlets Gules, on a chief dancette of the second, an open book proper garnished or bearing the legend In Domino Confido in letters Sable between two crowns of the first. |
?–present | Flag of the Mount Allison University | A gold blazon on a garnet field. | |
1884–present | Flag of the Queen's University at Kingston | Tierced in pale Azure Or and Gules in the canton an ancient crown Or. | |
1920–present | Flag of the Royal Military College of Canada | Gules on a pale Argent the Crest (A dexter arm embowed vambraced and gauntleted proper holding a sprig of three maple leaves Or all ensigned by the Royal Crown proper). | |
Link | ?-present | Flag of the University of British Columbia | |
Link | ?-present | Flag of the University of Lethbridge | |
Link | ?-present | Flag of the University of Northern British Columbia | |
Link | 1971–present | Flag of the University of Ottawa | Gules on a Canadian pale Argent an escutcheon of the arms of the University of Ottawa thereon the crest of the said University set upon a wreath Argent and Gules. |
Link | 1857–present | Flag of the University of Toronto | Party per fess Argent and Azure the Crest (Azure two open Books and in base a Beaver all proper, upon a Chief Agent the Royal and Imperial Crown also proper, and for the crest on a wreath of the colours an Oak tree proper stemmed and fructed Or). |
Organizational flags
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
?-present | Grand Orange Lodge of Canada | An orange British ensign depicted with a red maple leaf on a white shield in the fly. | |
1995-present | Anglican Church of Canada | A St. George's Cross with one green-and-gold maple leaf in each corner. |
Corporate flags
A number of private corporations also use their own flags, but they are often used alongside the Maple Leaf.
Companies that have corporate flags include the following:
- Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)
- Hudson's Bay Company (HBC)
- Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
- Sheraton Hotels
- Toronto Maple Leafs
See also
Notes
- Although this flag was formally granted to Windsor by the Canadian Heraldic Authority on 08 May 1992,[15] it appears that, after the Letters Patent had been issued, the city declined to adopt it officially.[14]
References
- Department of Canadian Heritage. "Ceremonial and Canadian Symbols Promotion > Flag Etiquette in Canada". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
- Department of Canadian Heritage. "Ceremonial and Canadian Symbols Promotion > Personal Flags and Standards". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
- FOTW Flags of the World: Vancouver Island (British Colony, Canada)
- Flags of Canada: British Columbia
- "Canada > Index of Pages > First Nations > Mikmaq". Flags of the World. ISSN 1712-9842. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
- "Flags of the World". Archived from the original on 2017-07-04. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
- Canadian Heraldic Authority. "The Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada > Nisga'a Nation". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
- "Canada > Index of Pages > First Nations > Nisga'a Nation". Flags of the World. ISSN 1712-9842. Archived from the original on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
- http://fraser.cc/FlagsCan/Nation/NatDefence.html
- http://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=1985
- Department of National Defence (2001-01-05). A-AD-200-000/AG-000 The Honours, Flags and Heritage Structure of the Canadian Forces Chap 4 Annex A. Directorate of History and Heritage.
- "Montreal to have city flag to fly", Montreal Gazette May 3-1935, retrieved December 13, 2018
- https://papyrus.bib.umontreal.ca/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1866/14448/Boudreau_Mathieu_2003_memoire.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
- Hill, Sharon (July 20, 2015). "Windsor needs a new flag, says local blogger". The Windsor Star. Postmedia Network. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- Canada Gazette, vol. 126 (25 Jul 1992), p. 2303
- "The Corporation Of The City Of Windsor". Reg.GG.CA. The Governor General Of Canada. 1992-05-08. Retrieved 2018-10-27.
- David Prothero (December 4, 1999). "The Maple Leaf Garland". Flags of the World. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
External links
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