The Meanings Behind New Brunswick's Flag Colors

The colours and symbols of the New Brunswick flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The flag features a golden lion on a red field in the upper third, with a gold field and a lymphad (an ancient galley ship) on top of blue and white wavy lines in the bottom two-thirds. The gold lion in the upper third of the flag represents New Brunswick's ties to Britain and the Duchy of Brunswick in Germany, while the lymphad may symbolise the province's historical shipbuilding industry or the ships used by Loyalists fleeing the United States after the American Revolutionary War. The blue and white wavy lines beneath the ship likely represent the sea.

The gold lion symbolises New Brunswick's ties to England and the Duchy of Brunswick in Germany

The flag of New Brunswick features a golden lion on a red background in its upper third. This gold lion is a reference to the ties that the Canadian province has to England and the Duchy of Brunswick in Germany.

The province is named after the Duchy of Brunswick, which was in the possession of King George III in 1784, the year New Brunswick was established. The arms of Brunswick feature two gold lions on a red field, while the arms of King George III contained the three gold lions of England. The gold lion on the New Brunswick flag is a direct reference to these two coats of arms, reflecting the province's relationship to both England and the Duchy of Brunswick.

The gold lion in the flag's upper third also has a resemblance to the Royal Arms of England, which features three golden lions on a red background. This is due to New Brunswick's historical connection to England as its colonial ruler from 1713 until the Confederation in 1867.

The coat of arms of New Brunswick, from which the flag is derived, was assigned by Royal Warrant of Queen Victoria on May 26, 1868. The shield on the coat of arms, featuring the gold lion, was specifically intended to link the province with England. The crest and motto were added later by Order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council in 1966, with other features assigned by Royal Warrant of Queen Elizabeth II in 1984.

The red field is a reference to the coats of arms of England and the Duchy of Brunswick

The red field on the flag of New Brunswick is a reference to the historical coats of arms of England and the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg in Germany. The flag, which was adopted in 1965, features a golden lion passant on a red field in the upper third. The gold lion on a red field is reminiscent of the coats of arms of England and the Duchy of Brunswick, both of which have historical connections to New Brunswick.

The coat of arms of England features three golden lions on a red background, also known as the Royal Arms of England. This design was used by the British monarchy, which had colonial rule over New Brunswick from 1713 until the Confederation in 1867. The presence of the golden lion on a red field in the New Brunswick flag thus acknowledges the province's historical ties to England.

Similarly, the coat of arms of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg in Germany features two golden lions on a red background. In 1784, when the province of New Brunswick was established, the Duchy of Brunswick was in the possession of King George III, who was also the reigning British monarch. By including the golden lion on a red field, the New Brunswick flag recognises its namesake and historical connection to the Duchy of Brunswick.

The red field on the New Brunswick flag, therefore, serves as a symbolic reference to the province's colonial history and its ties to both England and the Duchy of Brunswick. It is a reminder of the historical events and powers that shaped the region.

It is worth noting that the coat of arms of New Brunswick, which served as the basis for the flag's design, was granted by Queen Victoria in 1868. The design of the coat of arms, including the golden lion on a red field, was carefully chosen to symbolise the province's connections to England and the Duchy of Brunswick. This further emphasises the intentional reference to these historical coats of arms in the New Brunswick flag.

The lymphad/galley ship represents New Brunswick's historical shipbuilding industry

The flag of New Brunswick features a lymphad, or galley ship, sailing on blue and white wavy lines. This ship is representative of New Brunswick's historical shipbuilding industry.

New Brunswick's historical shipbuilding industry was a principal economic activity in the province during the 19th century. In fact, shipbuilding was so important to the province that it was featured on their coat of arms, which was assigned by Royal Warrant of Queen Victoria in 1868. The coat of arms features a shield with a golden lion on a red field, which was linked to England and celebrated New Brunswick's maritime location and shipbuilding prominence. The lymphad or galley ship at the bottom of the shield may also refer to the ships used by Loyalists fleeing the United States in the late 18th century after the American Revolutionary War.

The lymphad or galley ship on the New Brunswick flag is a conventional heraldic representation of a ship. This symbol reflects the historical importance of shipping and shipbuilding in the province. The flag was designed by Robert Pichette and Alan B. Beddoe, who created a striking new artistic interpretation of the coat of arms in the form of an armorial banner. The flag was officially adopted and hoisted in 1965, and it has been the flag of the Canadian province since February 24, 1965.

The blue and white wavy lines symbolise the sea

The flag of New Brunswick features blue and white wavy lines, which symbolise the sea. The flag was adopted in 1965, and its design is based on the province's coat of arms, which was assigned by Royal Warrant of Queen Victoria in 1868. The blue and white wavy lines represent the sea, with a ship sailing on top of the waves. The ship is a conventional heraldic representation of a galley, reflecting the province's historical shipbuilding industry and its maritime location.

The galley, or lymphad, is a symbol of New Brunswick's economic activities in shipping and shipbuilding during the 19th century when the coat of arms was assigned. It also evokes the ships used by Loyalists fleeing the United States after the American Revolutionary War. The blue and white wavy lines, therefore, symbolise not only the sea but also New Brunswick's historical connection to it, both in terms of economic activity and the arrival of early settlers.

The blue and white wavy lines are an important part of the flag's design, reflecting the province's maritime heritage and history. They also serve as a reminder of the significant role played by the sea in shaping New Brunswick's past and present. The sea is often seen as a powerful force, and its representation on the flag underscores the influence it has had on the province's culture, economy, and people.

The blue and white colours themselves may also carry symbolic meaning. Blue is often associated with loyalty, stability, and trustworthiness, while white represents purity, peace, and new beginnings. These colours, combined with the ship sailing on the waves, create a visual representation of New Brunswick's history, values, and connection to the sea.

Overall, the blue and white wavy lines on the New Brunswick flag are a powerful symbol of the province's maritime heritage and the important role the sea has played in its history and development. They serve as a reminder of the province's connection to the sea and the significant impact it has had on shaping New Brunswick's identity.

The three red flags on the ship represent New Brunswick's ties to Canada

The flag of New Brunswick, a Canadian province, was officially adopted in 1965 and hoisted on 25 March 1965. The flag features a golden lion on a red background in the upper third and a gold field with a ship on blue and white wavy lines in the bottom two-thirds. The ship, known as a lymphad or galley, has a white sail and three red flags.

The lymphad may also evoke the ships used by Loyalists fleeing the United States after the American Revolutionary War in the late 18th century. The Loyalists settled in the western part of Nova Scotia, which later became the colony of New Brunswick in 1784. Thus, the three red flags on the ship not only symbolise New Brunswick's historical shipbuilding industry but also commemorate the ships that brought Loyalists to the province, contributing to its strong ties with Canada.

The flag of New Brunswick is based on the province's coat of arms, which was assigned by Royal Warrant of Queen Victoria in 1868. The coat of arms also features a golden lion in the upper third, reflecting New Brunswick's relationship with England, and the lymphad or galley in the lower part, representing shipping and shipbuilding. The design of the galley on the flag is based on the province's original great seal, which depicted a sailing ship on water.

Frequently asked questions