Vexillology: Flags of Canada

I'm in self-isolation right now. After a year of nearly zero COVID-19 cases, sadly Thailand has begun its most serious wave yet. Maybe we got complacent, but unfortunately, we are finally starting to experience something of what the rest of the world went through in 2020. I'm hoping that things can get under control soon.

While the government hasn't imposed any major restrictions yet, I suspect that it's just a matter of time. Some provinces have already closed their borders, and we are all being asked to cooperate and stay indoors. My adventures are on hiatus for the time being, which means that it's time to turn back to a series of blog posts that I really enjoyed last year: Vexillology, the study of flags (at least from time to time)!

And today we are going to be talking about Canada! First, did you know that Canada has two official flags? The Maple Flag, introduced in 1965, is the national flag of Canada, but the Union Flag is the official ceremonial flag, and is flown over Parliament and at various official functions, particularly when the Queen or Governor-General is in attendance.

And in order to understand the importance of some of these flags in Canada's history, I'd also like to highlight the Red Ensign, a civil flag of Canada, which was in use since colonial days. Before the introduction of the Maple Leaf Flag, Canada actually did not actually have its own national flag, instead using the Union Flag for all official and governmental functions. The Red Ensign was used for a long time in place of an official national flag.

My Five Favorite Flags in Canada

The Royal Standard of Canada

The Royal Standard is the official standard of the monarch of Canada (Queen Elizabeth II). It is a beautiful flag, clearly inspired by the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom, but with the distinctly Canadian triple maple leaves. The Royal Standard is a heraldic banner, meaning that it represents an individual (in this case, the queen) rather than a state or territory.

The standard is designed to reflect the unique colonial history of Canada - featuring quartered elements representing (clockwise from top left) England, Scotland, France, and Ireland respectively. The central element is the roundel with the royal "E" monogram surrounded by a ring of golden roses and topped with the Crown of St. Edward. This monogram is the official symbol of the Commonwealth of Nations (a voluntary union of 54 independent countries), and the royal standard of Her Majesty as Head of the Commonwealth. The standard establishes Canada's unique heritage, while maintain it as both an independent country and an important part of the international community of the Commonwealth.

Quebec

The flag of Quebec takes inspiration from the royal flags of France. The Bourbon Flag flew over Quebec when it was a French colonial territory, and famously featured the fleur-de-lis  as a symbol of French royal authority. The color blue on the flag, like the field of blue on the flag of the European Union, is symbolic of the color honoring the Virgin Mary, representing this heavily French-Catholic region of Canada. The North American Vexillogical Association rated the flag of Quebec as the best Canadian provincial or territorial flag, and I find it hard to disagree! The design is simple, yet effective at illustrating the unique cultural heritage of Quebec within Canada.

New Brunswick

In 1965, when the Canadian Red Ensign was replaced by the Maple Leaf Flag, strong imperialist sentiments throughout Canada led to several provinces (such as Ontario and Manitoba) to adopt provincial versions of the Red Ensign to be used as provincial flags.

In New Brunswick, the colonial government had forcibly removed Acadians (French Canadians) in the mid to late 19th century, and while many had eventually moved back once the deportation mandate ended, tensions between English and French-speaking Canadians remained high. A Red Ensign steeped in colonial history would have been seen as at best insensitive and at worst inappropriate and offensive to the French-speaking demographic.

In 1965, the New Brunswick Premier was the first Acadian elected to the office. Hoping to avoid alienating a huge part of the population, and hoping to help unify the province while being sensitive to historical and cultural issues, he ordered the creation of a new and unique flag. The flag of New Brunswick is designed in accordance with the rules of heraldry, and is taken directly from the Coat of Arms of New Brunswick. It is exceedingly rare for a flag to be modeled directly from a coat of arms, and it gives the flag a completely unique look. You can tell that it looks far more like a heraldic coat of arms than it does a typical flag! This makes it stand out as by far one of the most interesting and unique flags in the world.

The gold lion is taken from the Royal Arms of England and the Arms of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and call back to the historical connection of New Brunswick to both. The sea and sailing ship are in reference to New Brunswick's colonial history as an important trade port and coastal colony.

The coat of arms of New Brunswick:

For reference, versions of the Red Ensign are still in use as provincial flags for several provinces, including Ontario (left) and Manitoba (right):

British Columbia

The flag of British Columbia is one of my favorites for the same reason that I love the flag of New Brunswick. It too is taken directly from its provincial coat of arms.

The flag features the Royal Union Flag, defaced in the center by a crown, and with a setting sun below, representing the location of the province of British Columbia at the western end of Canada. Originally, the sun was on top with the Union Flag below, but it was switched, as it seemed to contradict the idea that "the sun never sets on the British Empire". Instead, it's now meant to symbolize British Columbia as the westernmost part of Canada.

I like this flag not only because it is so unique, but also because it is so colorful, bright, and cheerful. It's a very modern-looking flag, while still keeping the traditional heraldic designs of the province.

Coat of Arms of British Columbia:

Nunavut

The flag of the Nunavut Territory was introduced in 1999 when Nunavut became its own territory. Input was taken from the local community, and rather than a direct reference to Canada's colonial history (as the flags of many of the provinces have), the flag of Nunavut is a direct reference to Canada's native Inuit population.

The flag features a red inuksuk - a traditional Inuit land marker—and a blue star. The star is Niqirtsuituq, the North Star, and is a symbol of the traditional leadership of the elders (a guiding beacon). The colors of yellow, white, and blue are symbolic of the richness of the land, sky, and sea.

The flag has been criticized by some in the vexillogical community for having too many bold colors and for the placement of the blue star, but I like it! I really appreciate a flag that is different from the typical Euro-centric flag tradition (many European flags are - I have to say - quite boring). I really appreciate a flag that isn't afraid to embrace local culture and native tradition in a proud and outstanding manner.