List of Canadian flags

The flags of Vancouver, Canada, and British Columbia; the Canadian flag takes place of precedence in the centre
The Canadian national flag flying next to a statue of Terry Fox

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.

Royal

Flag Date Name Description
1962–present Royal Standard of Canada A banner of the Royal Arms of Canada defaced with a royal cypher of Queen Elizabeth II
2011–present Royal Standard of 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 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 the 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 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 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.

Viceregal and administrative

Governor general

Flag Date Name Description
1981–1999
2002–present
Standard 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 Name 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
1950–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 Name Description
2007–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
2006–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 Name 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 Name Description
1965–present Royal Union Flag The Cross of St. Andrew counterchanged with the Cross of St. Patrick and over all the Cross of St. George

Provincial

Flag Date Name 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
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
1968–present Flag of Alberta A blue field with the shield of the coat of arms of Alberta charged in the centre
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

Territorial

Flag Date Name 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)

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Flag Date Name Description
1843–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 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 permission was given from the Crown to colonies to place their badges on the fly of the Blue Ensign and as such could be argued by vexillologists that this could be an official flag.[4]
1988-present Flag of Western Canada Originally used by the Western Independence Party, it was created in 1988 ahead of the party's first election.
1994–present Flag of Cascadia A proposed nation that would consist mainly of British Columbia as well as the American states Washington and Oregon. The blue represents the sky, Pacific Ocean, Salish Sea and inland waters, the white represents snow and clouds and the green to represent the evergreen forests and fields. The tree is a Douglas-fir, which symbolizes endurance, defiance and resilience.
1832–present Patriote flag (republic of Québec) The proposed flag of Republic of Lower Canada in 1838-1838, still used nowadays by some separatists, 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.

Military, police, coast guard and border services

Canada Border Services Agency

Flag Date Name 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

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Flag Date Name Description
1968–present Flag of the Canadian Forces A white field with the National Flag of Canada in the canton and the Canadian 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
2014–present Flag of the Canadian Army A white field with the National Flag of Canada in the canton and the Canadian Army badge charged in the fly
1965–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
Unknown-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 Name 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 emlem charged in the hoist and a pair of fish in gold and facing opposite directions charged in the fly

Police

Flag Date Name Description
2005–present Flag of the Sûreté du Québec A green field, on a Canadian Pale Yellow charged with the badge of the Sûreté du Québec

Municipal

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Flag Date Name Description
Unknown-present Flag of Barrie
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
Unknown-present Flag of Charlottetown
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
Unknown-present Flag of Delta
Unknown-present Flag of Dollard-Des Ormeaux
Unknown-present Flag of Fernie
Unknown 2000 Flag of Gloucester
Unknown-present Flag of Guelph
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
Unknownpresent Flag of Laval
1967present 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.
Unknown-present Flag of Longueuil
Unknown-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
1939–present Flag of Montreal A white field with a red ordinary cross, a blue fleur-de-lis, a Lancastrian rose, a thistle, and a shamrock, all proper, in each quadrant
Unknown-present Flag of North Cowichan
1902–1987 Flag of Ottawa
1987-2000 Flag of Ottawa
2000–present Flag of Ottawa A field party per pale enarched, blue and azure, with a stylised 'O' emblem charged in the centre
Unknown-present Flag of Peterborough
Unknown-present Flag of Prince George
1987–present Flag of Quebec City The ship represents Samuel de Champlain's Don de Dieu and the background the city walls
1992–present Flag of Regina
1969–present Flag of Scarborough
Unknown-present Flag of Saint-Damien
Unknown-present Flag of Saint-Éphrem-de-Beauce
Unknown-present Flag of Shawinigan
Unknown-present Flag of Sudbury
Unknown-present Flag of Summerside
1999–present Flag of Toronto A blue field with a white styleised city hall and maple leaf emblem
Unknown-present Flag of Thunder Bay
Unknown-present Flag of Trois-Rivières
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
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

Crown corporations

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Flag Date Name Description
Unknown 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

Indigenous nations

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Flag Date Name Description
Pre-1816–present Flag of the Métis Nation of Canada A blue field with a white symbol of infinity charged in the centre
Pre-1816–present Flag of the Métis Nation of Alberta A red field with a white symbol of infinity charged in the centre
1980s-present Flag of the Iroquois 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
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]
2001–present Flag of the Nisga'a A vertical tricolour triband of black, white, and sanguine with the badge of the Nisga'a Nation,[6] surrounded by black and sanguine ovals, charged in the Canadian pale[7]
2005–present Flag of Nunatsiavut A white field with a white, green, and blue Inukshuk charged in the centre
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
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 Mi'kmaq Nation Grand Council A white field with a red Nordic 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]

Francophone peoples

Flag Date Name Description
1975–present Flag of the Franco-Ontarians A field party per fess, 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-Manitobains 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.

Historical flags

National flags

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
FlagDateUseDescription
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.
1922–1957 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.
1868–1922 Used as the de facto National Flag of Canada; unofficial. Red Ensign defaced with the arms of the four original provinces of Canada
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 colonization of the Americas before the Act of Union.
1286-1707 Flag of the Kingdom of Scotland Flag used during the Scottish colonization of the Americas before the Act of Union.

Vice-regal flags

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
FlagDateUseDescription
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 previous flag
1952–1981 Flag of the Governor General A lion standing on a St. Edward's crown, with the name "Canada" below; replaced 1931 flag
1931–1952 Flag of the Governor General A lion standing on an Imperial/Tudor crown, with the name "Canada" below; replaced by 1952 flag
1959–1965 Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario[8] Reverted to a Union Jack with provincial badge 1965–1981

Military flags

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
FlagDateUseDescription
RCN- 1911-1965

RCSCC- 1905-1965

Used as the ensign of both the Royal Canadian Navy and used by the some Royal Canadian Sea Cadets squadrons. Generally used throughout the entire British Empire by the British Navy and still lingered on even after many commonwealths became independent and gained 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.
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.

Others/Non-official flags

FlagDateUseDescription
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
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

FlagDateUseDescription
1884–present Queen's University
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

Organizational flags

FlagDateUseDescription
Grand Orange Lodge of Canada An orange British ensign defaced with a red maple leaf on a white shield in the fly
Anglican Church of Canada Argent, a cross Gules between four maple leaves Vert.

Corporate flags

A number of private corporations also use their own flags, but they are often used alongside the Maple Leaf.

A list of corporations with corporate flags:

See also

References

  1. Department of Canadian Heritage. "Ceremonial and Canadian Symbols Promotion > Flag Etiquette in Canada". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  2. Department of Canadian Heritage. "Ceremonial and Canadian Symbols Promotion > Personal Flags and Standards". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  3. FOTW Flags of the World: Vancouver Island (British Colony, Canada)
  4. Flags of Canada: British Columbia
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Canada > Index of Pages > First Nations > Mikmaq". Flags of the World. ISSN 1712-9842. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  6. 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.
  7. "Canada > Index of Pages > First Nations > Nisga'a Nation". Flags of the World. ISSN 1712-9842. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  8. David Prothero (December 4, 1999). "The Maple Leaf Garland". Flags of the World. Retrieved April 1, 2011.

External links

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