Hey! First of all congratulations on settling into the new country, Canada. I am more excited because it’s Canada and I love everything about it. Also, some of my friends are already residing there.

Canada is a country that will fascinate you at every step of your exploration. This country is known for several things, such as good food, super-friendly people, mesmerizing high peaks, polar bears, and provincial flags. You’ll be surprised to know that every one of these provinces and territories has its own set of symbols or flags. And, as a new immigrant, you should know that these provincial flags narrate a story about the history and evolution of every province in the country.

I know you are quite busy understanding the new living style and sorting out lots of new stuff. But this one you shouldn’t miss. After all, it’s about the Canadian flag.

Evolution and the History of the Canadian Flag

To start with I must tell you how it all began. Actually, the history of the Canadian flag is very interesting to know. Earlier, Canada belonged to the British colony and had no flag for its representation. It came under the flag of the British Empire, the Union Jack, and was considered a part of the British Empire.

During the late 19th century, the British Empire decided to separate each of its colonies and assign a symbol to give them a special identity. And speaking about Canada, a red and blue background flag was made with other symbols in the bottom right and the picture of the Union Jack in the top left corner.

The Canadian Red Ensign was used as a de facto national flag until the adoption of the current national flag in 1965. Although it did have official status as a civil ensign used by Canadian merchant ships, it was not the national flag. The Canadian Red Ensign did not have the Canadian coat of arms during its entire usage. Initially, it featured the Union Jack in the canton (top left corner) and the Canadian coat of arms shield in the fly (right-hand side of the flag).

One of the biggest events that occurred in the official establishment of the Canadian flag was when Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson led the campaign for a new Canadian flag in the 1960s. The debate and discussion around creating a distinct Canadian flag intensified during that time period due to Canada’s growing sense of national identity and desire to have a flag free from British symbolism.

The maple leaf was a symbol of Canada for a long time. The adoption of the current Canadian flag, featuring the red and white maple leaf design, occurred on February 15, 1965. This marked a significant moment in Canada’s history as it represented a departure from its colonial past and a step towards asserting its independent national identity on the world stage.

Rules of the Canadian Flag

The official flag proclamation of Canada, as in the specifics of the flag design, is by the federal bureaucracy. The flag rules are according to the Canadian Standards General Board which you should also know about.

• The colour of the flag is red and measures 64 units in length and 32 units in width or depth.
• The exact measurements are usually specified in metric units, with the size twice the width, resulting in a 1:2 aspect ratio.
• The flag consists of two vertical red bands (hoist and fly) with a white square in the middle containing a red maple leaf. 

Canada has a variety of flags, all distinctively unique in their designs and illustrations. As a new immigrant in Canada, you will see the maple leaf flag being hoisted in several public places like government buildings, schools, and large business companies.

Also, as a respect to the individuals of the military and several other martyrs, the flag is lowered halfway down the pole or the flag is flown at half-mast as a standard etiquette.

Provincial Flags of Canada

Canada has ten provinces and three territories. The provinces are Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. The territories are Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon. And let me tell you that each one of them has their own flags. These flags have evolved and changed over the years.

Here is a brief description of the design and elements of each flag of Canada’s provinces and territories.

1. Alberta: A blue field with the provincial coat of arms in the center, featuring a stylized landscape, mountains, wheat fields, and a red St. George’s Cross.
2. British Columbia: A blue field with a Union Jack in the canton and a crowned shield in the fly, depicting a sun setting over the Pacific Ocean, a Union Jack, and a crown.
3. Manitoba: A red field with the provincial coat of arms in the center, featuring a bison standing on a rock with a crown above it.
4. New Brunswick: A banner of the provincial coat of arms, featuring a gold lion on a red field with a ship and a royal crown.
5. Newfoundland and Labrador: A blue field with a stylized pink and white spruce twig and a gold arrow on the fly, representing the logging and fishing industries.
6. Nova Scotia: A blue field with the provincial coat of arms in the center, featuring a shield with a Scottish thistle, a salmon, and an ancient ship.
7. Ontario: A red field with the provincial coat of arms in the center, featuring a green maple leaf, St. George’s Cross, a golden lion, and a bear.
8. Prince Edward Island: A banner of the provincial coat of arms, featuring a golden lion on a red field with three oak trees and a blue bottom representing the sea.
9. Quebec: A blue field with a white cross dividing it into four rectangles, each containing a white fleur-de-lis, representing the French heritage.
10. Saskatchewan: A green field with the provincial coat of arms in the upper fly, featuring wheat sheaves, a western red lily, and a buffalo.
11. Northwest Territories: A blue field with a white silhouette of a polar bear, an inuksuk, and a golden sun representing the midnight sun.
12. Nunavut: A gold and white field with a red inuksuk and a blue star, symbolizing the North Star and traditional Inuit culture.
13. Yukon: A blue field with the Yukon coat of arms in the center, featuring a red and white cross, a gold disk representing the midnight sun, and three wavy lines for the rivers.

I wish that moving to Canada to be one of the best decisions of your life. The country has a rich history and culture, is very well-developed, and has impressive infrastructure. Since you are a new immigrant here, it’s good to know about the facts and features of the Canadian flags.

The national flag of Canada is known as the Maple Leaf Flag, and it has a red field with a white square in the center containing a stylized red maple leaf. Talking about the geographical scenario, the country is divided into ten provinces and three territories, with flags representing their identity.

Last Updated on April 14, 2024 by Pragya Chakrapani