All about Canada's provincial flags

Let's learn the history behind the 10 flags of the Canadian provinces.

[MikeDeLue]

The Canadian Provincial flags do a better job of being symbolic, unique and representative of their region than do US state flags, but don't have the simplicity of design and distinctness from a great distance that is desired of a flag. A seal is meant to be read up close, with detail obvious, on paper or on a banner. Flags are often seen from kilometers away, flapping in the wind, or hanging flaccid in a dead sky. In those situations NB and BC would be unrecognizable and Manitoba's and Ontario's would be indistinguishable. This is also true of most American state flags (ever tried to tell whether you're in Idaho or Montana just by driving past a flag in the rockies? impossible)

I say good on ya to Quebec and Saskatchewan (although SK lost the plot keeping the seal really). Nunavut does pretty great to be honest as well. I like the symbolism of the Yukon and the NW Territories using the Canadian Pale on a territorial level, but they dropped the ball when they said "Aaaaand then we slapped the seal in the middle" and called it a day.

Overall, from your random neighborhood amateur vexillologist, I give it a B for the Territories, and B- for the provinces. Not terrible, but room for serious improvement.

[acarrot]

How to make a flag French: You get a flag. You slap a fleur-de-lis or 6 on it.

[Oliver-ycfi]

My favorite fact about the Nova Scotia flag is that: "Despite continuous usage of the flag to represent Nova Scotia since 1858, the flag was only recognized by the provincial government of Nova Scotia as the official provincial flag in May 2013, through the Provincial Flag Act, after an eleven-year-old girl researching a project realized that no one had recognized the flag officially in 155 years of usage." I know this girl! XD

[ThatSpecificIndividual]

Those shapes in the Quebec flag are called the fleur-de-lis is a symbol of the kingdom of France, they were used in the coat of arms of countries to signify French connections.

[lpsgameslilyanna]

i love how British Columbia still has the union jack on it no matter what lmao

[tonygagnon]

Quebec’s flag was was officially adopted on January 1, 1948 it the first provincial flag officially accepted by Canada. The Fleurdelisé (that the official name of the Quebec flag) takes its white cross from the ancient royal flags of France. Its white fleurs-de-lis (symbols of purity) and blue field (symbolizing Heaven) come from a banner honouring the Virgin Mary. One such was reputedly carried by French Canadian militia at General Louis-Joseph de Montcalm's victory at Carillon. The flag is blazoned Azure, a cross between four fleurs-de-lis argent. Its horizontal symmetry allows both sides of the flag to show the same image.

Legend has it that the use of the fleur-de-lis as an emblem of French royalty dates back to the year 496 when Clovis, the first Christian king of France, was baptized by Saint Remigius and is said to have adopted the flower as his personal emblem.

The Colors and Symbols Represent

Blue
The blue (Pantone 293) is the reminder of the countries that had colonized Quebec. Great Britain and France have blue as the base of their flag. From the religious point of view, it is the symbol of truth and clarity as Mary and Jesus wore clothes of this color. It symbolizes heaven as it is similar to the color of the sky.

White
The white lines form the cross, and are horizontally isotropic. The source of the cross belongs to regal France. The cross recalls an ancient French military banner. The horizontal line gives the effect of similarity―as above so below.

The cross represent the catholic faith.

Fleur-de-lis
This is a common symbol used by the French kings, which makes people draw a close connection with French symbols. There is one fleur-de-lis in each quadrant, and it is white in color, one for each French Kings (Henri IV, Louis XIII, Louis XIV and Louis XV) that were on the throne when New France was part of the French empire. The white Fleur-de-lis symbolize purity; an original representation of Virgin Mary. According to Christianity, fleur-de-lis represents a lily, which is the symbol of purity. The three petals and sepals can be interpreted as the trinity, i.e., the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

It’s considered the best-designed provincial flag.

Quebec’s flag’s design has been heralded by the North American Vexillogical Association. Their 2001 study ranked the Fleurdelisé as the best provincial flag and the third-best flag of all U.S. and Canadian state, provincial, and territory flags.

[ihambacon]

The Patriots' flag when you talk about Quebec is upside down
the one you showed IS the falg of hungary, but the Patriots had the green on top and the red at the bottom
Super cool video though!

[Maxime_K-G]

I traveled to Quebec a few years ago (first time in North-America) and I absolutely loved their flag! Equally as good as the Canadian one.

[RobertGrif]

You may claim that Canada's provincial flags were lazily designed, but honestly, U.S. state flags are even worse. Most are just the state seal on a plain blue, green, or white banner.

[hisham]

I love all the little sound effects you throw in

[thomasjefferson]

The Union Jack was never abolished in Canada. In order to secure passage of the adoption of the new flag in Canada's Parliament with a minority government in power, it was agreed that the Union Jack would be retained as a flag of Canada (now called the Royal Flag of Canada). This flag can be flown alongside of, or in place of, the Maple Leaf flag. In the mid 1960s, the flag debate was intense, and the new flag least popular on the prairies (Quebec didn't really care). Canada's new flag was called the flag of Peru with the symbol of Ontario in the middle.

[robertjarman]

Worth remembering that Newfoundland wasn't a part of Canada until 1949.

[wrong_reginald]

Another great vid! That simplified Manitoba flag at the end is SO NICE!

[brycem]

Quebec has the most pleasing provincial flag

[anyahm]

If Sheldon Coopers “Fun With Flags” was this fun, I would definitely watch!

[aaroncatron]

As someone who studies heraldry and its allied discipline of vexillology, I have to say that Canada tends to do this better than the US, probably because the British influence remained for such a long period of time. In the US, most state flags are just a sheet with the state seal on them, whereas the Canadian provincial ensigns and banners of arms follow good design customs, to say nothing of how they're more distinctive and readable in many cases.

[timtwoface]

BC, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland have the most interesting and unique flags. Honourable mention to Nunavut, which, while not a province, has an awesome and unique flag, too.

[morozco]

How about a vexillology video on the "Canadian/Provincial flag designs that did not make it"?

[gonzaloalarcon]

I dont know how you do it, but you made a peruvian interested in CANADIAN FLAGS...dafuq! Good video as always

[ameliecastonguay]

The quebec flag actually has a meaning. It does take the white cross from other french flags, which represents our history as an ex french colony. The 4 fleurs-de-lis symbolize purity and the blue "fields" symbolize heaven (quebec has a strong history with the catholic religion, even though it isn't very much practiced anymore)