Flags of Canada: national, provincial, territorial and royal flags

Canada flies many flags beside the maple leaf. Each province and territory has its own flag, the Sovereign and the Governor General have personal flags, and the country’s earlier flags live on as historical flags. According to Canadian Heritage, the provincial and territorial flags reflect the heritage of each province or territory, represent all its people and are treated with the same respect as the National Flag.

The National Flag of Canada

The National Flag of Canada, often called the maple leaf flag, is a red flag twice as long as it is wide (2:1), with a white square in the centre the width of the flag and a single stylized 11-point red maple leaf. It was proclaimed by Queen Elizabeth II on 28 January 1965 and raised for the first time on 15 February 1965. Red and white are Canada’s national colours. The flag and its maple leaf are protected symbols under the Trademarks Act. Its design and history are in the guide to the Canadian flag.

The provincial and territorial flags

The table lists the flags in the order of precedence set by Canadian Heritage, with the year of adoption and the proportions (length by width) that the department gives.

A few details from Canadian Heritage: the flag of Nova Scotia was the first flag in the overseas Commonwealth authorized by royal charter; the flags of Ontario and Manitoba closely resemble the Canadian Red Ensign; the Saskatchewan flag came from a provincial design competition won by Anthony Drake; the Yukon flag was designed by Lynn Lambert, a student from Haines Junction, in Canada’s centennial year; and the Nunavut flag was granted by Governor General Roméo LeBlanc on 1 April 1999.

The flag of Québec

The fleurdelisé replaced the Union Jack on the central tower of the Hôtel du Parlement in Québec City on 21 January 1948, after the government had given it the status of official flag of Québec by decree that morning; the legislature confirmed it in 1950. The Gouvernement du Québec describes it heraldically as “d’azur à la croix d’argent cantonnée de quatre fleurs de lys du même”. It is 3:2, not 2:1 like the flag of Canada, and the Gouvernement du Québec points out that only flags of the legal format are appropriate. Common sizes are 60 × 90 cm, 90 × 135 cm, 120 × 180 cm and 180 × 270 cm; a standard of the Bureau de normalisation du Québec sets the requirements for dimensions, quality and manufacture.

Royal and vice-regal flags

According to Canadian Heritage, Canada was the first Commonwealth realm to create personal flags for members of the Royal Family other than the head of state. The designs are developed by the Canadian Heraldic Authority.

• The Sovereign’s Personal Canadian Flag is a banner of the Royal Arms of Canada: the lions of England and Scotland, the harp of Ireland, the fleurs-de-lis of France and maple leaves. It was unveiled in May 2023 for King Charles III and has a permanent design for future sovereigns. It marks the Sovereign’s presence in Canada.
• The Governor General’s flag shows the crest of the Canada Coat of Arms – a crowned lion holding a red maple leaf – on a blue field. It was approved by Queen Elizabeth II in 1981 and stays the same from one Governor General to the next.
• The lieutenant governors of the provinces and the territorial commissioners have their own flags, and the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal have Personal Canadian Flags.

These flags take precedence over the National Flag where their holders are present, except the commissioners’ flags. They are never flown at half-mast. More in the guide to flag protocol.

Historical flags

The Royal Union Flag was used across British North America and in Canada after Confederation until 1965. The Canadian Red Ensign, a red ensign with the Union Jack and the shield of Canada, was used unofficially at sea and on land from the 1870s and was flown from government buildings until the maple leaf flag replaced it in 1965, but was never formally adopted as the national flag. Under Canadian Heritage’s policy, historical flags are flown only with the National Flag, on their own pole, lower than and away from it, and preferably where research shows a meaningful link between the flag and the place, with information for the public. More in the guide to flagpole history.

Ensigns and other flags

The National Flag of Canada is the proper national colours for Canadian ships and boats, including pleasure craft. The Canadian Armed Forces have their own flags and ensigns, regulated by the Directorate of History and Heritage. Municipalities, organizations and businesses fly their own flags, which rank after the national, provincial and territorial flags. Flag sizes are covered in the guide to flag sizes.