Flag of Northwest Territories

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The current Flag of Northwest Territories, Canada was adopted in 1969 by the Legislative Assembly of Northwest Territories.

Historically there have been four flags used in the territory since it joined confederation.

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[edit] Hudson's Bay Company Flag

Hudson's Bay Flag
Hudson's Bay Flag

The original flag of the Hudson's Bay Company served as the territorial flag from the moment Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory was purchased by Canada in 1869 until it was replaced in 1950.


[edit] 1950 Flag

The territories second flag came about circa 1950. The territorial government was becoming sensitive to the needs of the territorial residents. The coat of arms on the flag consisted of a polar bear, and wheat stocks. Wheat stocks were a poor choice, as the territories agricultural land had been ceded to other provinces years earlier and the flag was replaced in 1959.

[edit] 1959 Flag

A new flag was selected in 1959, the flag kept the union jack and background color of the 1950 version, but a new coat of arms was placed in the white circle. This flag would serve the territories until 1969.

[edit] Current Flag

The current Flag of Northwest Territories
The current Flag of Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories fourth flag was chosen by a special committee of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in 1969. The committee reviewed entries from a Canada wide contest. The winner of the contest was Robert Bessant from Margaret, Manitoba.

The flag carried over the coat of arms from the old flag, this time making it featured in the center, and dropped the union jack.

The flag features a blue field on which is a Canadian pale (a white stripe taking up half the width of the flag), with at the center, the shield from the Coat of Arms of the Northwest Territories. The blue represents the abundant Northwest Territories waters, whereas the white represents snow and ice.

[edit] Centennial Flag

A special flag was released for the 100th anniversary centennial.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links