Flag of British Columbia

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

Flag of British Columbia

The Flag of British Columbia
British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's Provinces and territories of Canada and is famed for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu ....
, Canada
Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
is based upon the shield of the provincial arms of British Columbia

Coat of arms of British Columbia

The original Coat of Arms of British Columbia was granted to British Columbia by a Royal Warrant of Edward VII of the United Kingdom on March 31 1906....
. At the top of the flag is a rendition of the Union Flag

Flag of the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom uses as its national flag the royal banner locally known as the Union Flag or, popularly, Union Jack. The current design of the Union Flag dates from the Act of Union 1800 in 1801....
, defaced

Defacement (flag)

Defacement is a term used in heraldry and vexillology to refer to the addition of a symbol or charge to another flag. For example, the Flag of Australia is the British Blue Ensign defaced with the Crux in the Flag terminology#Description of standard flag parts and terms and the Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter, beneath the Union...
in the centre by a crown, representing the province's origins as a British colony, with a setting sun

Sunset

File:Sunset 2007-1.jpgSunset is the daily disappearance of the sun below the horizon as a result of the Earth's rotation. The atmospheric conditions created by the setting of the sun are also commonly referred to as "a sunset"....
below.

British Columbia flag was introduced on June 14, 1960 by Premier W.

Discussion

Ask a question about 'Flag of British Columbia'

Start a new discussion about 'Flag of British Columbia'

Answer questions from other users

Full Discussion Forum

Encyclopedia

Coat of arms of British Columbia

Flag of the United Kingdom

Defacement (flag)

Sunset

History

The British Columbia flag was introduced on June 14, 1960 by Premier W. A. C. Bennett, and was first flown on board the BC Ferries

BC Ferries

British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. or BC Ferries is a de facto Crown Corporation that provides all major passenger and vehicle ferry services for coastal and island communities in the Canadian province of British Columbia....
vessel Queen of Sidney. Some early versions of the flag were reversed, with the Union Flag on the bottom. This was changed as it conflicted with the expression "The sun never sets on the British Empire

The empire on which the sun never sets

The phrase "The Empire on which the sun never sets" is used to describe an empire of such a large extent that, at any one time, at least part of its territory is in daylight....
."

Design

The four wavy white and three wavy blue lines symbolize the province's location between the Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. Its name is derived from the Latin name Mare Pacificum, "peaceful sea", bestowed upon it by the Portugal explorer Ferdinand Magellan....
and the Rocky Mountains

Rocky Mountains

The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than 4,800 kilometre from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in Canada, to New Mexico, in the United States....
. The setting sun represents the fact that British Columbia is Canada

Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
's westernmost province. The sun may also reflect the provincial motto "Splendor sine occasu" (beauty that never diminishes) -- or, in other words, the sun that never sets (on the British Empire). In Canada, it could be argued, the Empire lives on in the country's symbols and parliamentary institutions. The Union Flag

Union Flag

The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the national Flag of the United Kingdom. Historically, the flag was used throughout the former British Empire....
on top reflects the province's British heritage, while the King Edward crown in the centre represents the Canadian Royal Family. The flag has an aspect ratio of 3:5.

Flag of British Columbia

History

Design

See also