New Brunswick's Provincial Animal: The Beaver

New Brunswick, one of Canada's ten provinces, has a number of official symbols. The black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is New Brunswick's official bird, adopted in 1983 following a contest run by the New Brunswick Federation of Naturalists. The small, acrobatic bird is easily recognised and energetic, with a distinctive song that can be heard throughout the year. New Brunswick's official flower is the purple violet (Viola cucullata), which was chosen in 1936 with input from the Women's Institute, the Lieutenant Governor, and the province's schoolchildren.

Provincial bird: black-capped chickadee

The black-capped chickadee, or Poecile atricapillus, was named New Brunswick's provincial bird in 1983. The honour came after a competition organised by the New Brunswick Federation of Naturalists. The black-capped chickadee is also in the running to be named Canada's national bird.

The black-capped chickadee is a small, cheerful, and energetic bird, known for its distinctive song, which can be heard all year round. It has a black cap and bib, white downy cheeks, and a blush-coloured underbelly. Weighing about the same as three pennies, the bird is able to survive the harsh winter months in New Brunswick. During the warmer months, they feed on insects, caterpillars, and larvae, but in winter, they have to search for berries and seeds.

The black-capped chickadee is a trusting and curious bird, and its disposition makes it the ideal visitor to backyard bird feeders. They are particularly fond of black oil sunflower seeds and shelled unsalted peanuts. They are also known to land on people's shoulders or heads.

The black-capped chickadee is a fitting symbol for the province of New Brunswick. The bird's characteristics—happy, friendly, energetic, hard-working, trusting, and resourceful—reflect those of a typical New Brunswicker.

Provincial flower: purple violet

The purple violet, or Viola cucullata, is the provincial flower of New Brunswick, Canada. This flower was chosen in 1936, with input from the Women's Institute, the Lieutenant Governor, and the province's schoolchildren. The purple violet is also the state flower of Illinois, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.

The purple violet is a modest plant, growing to a height of five to ten inches. It is found throughout Eastern Canada, particularly in wet meadows and woodlands. These violets are stemless, with leaves and flower stalks growing directly from rootstocks. They are known to flower in spring, but sometimes as late as October. The flowers are used to make jams and syrups and are believed to have medicinal properties, soothing the digestive tract and suppressing coughs.

The purple violet is a relative of the pansy and can be purple or dark blue. It is also known as the marsh blue violet. The flower grows especially well in New Brunswick and can be seen in fields, lawns, and gardens in early summer.

The provincial flower is featured on the coat of arms of New Brunswick, which was granted by Queen Victoria in 1868. The coat of arms features a shield, supported by two white-tailed deer wearing collars of wampum, representing the province's British and French background. The crest above the shield depicts an Atlantic salmon leaping from a coronet of gold maple leaves, bearing St. Edward's Crown on its back. The base of the coat of arms features a grassy mound with fiddleheads and purple violets.

The design of the New Brunswick flag is based on the provincial coat of arms and was assigned by royal warrant of Queen Victoria in 1868. The flag was officially adopted by proclamation in 1965. The flag's proportions are four by length and two and a half by width.

Provincial tree: balsam fir

The Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) is New Brunswick's official provincial tree, adopted in 1987. It is a small to medium-sized evergreen conifer, usually growing up to 25 metres tall and 70 centimetres in diameter, with a 7-metre crown spread. The Balsam Fir is native to eastern and central Canada and the northeastern United States.

The Balsam Fir has a symmetrical, narrow conical crown with branches extending nearly to the ground. Its leaves are needle-like, flat, and rounded at the tip, and are arranged in two ranks, 15-25 millimetres long. They are dark green above and whitish below. The cones are erect, dark purple, barrel-shaped, and 4-10 centimetres long. The bark of young Balsam Firs is smooth, pale grey with resin blisters, becoming roughened and reddish-brown as the tree matures.

The Balsam Fir is a staple of New Brunswick's lumber industry and is used for making high-quality paper. It is also favoured for Christmas trees due to its lengthy period of needle freshness, accounting for 97% of the province's Christmas tree industry. The Balsam Fir is winter-hardy, surviving temperatures as low as -45 degrees Celsius, and can grow in a variety of terrains, from swamps to slopes to mountain tops.

The Balsam Fir provides food and shelter for many of New Brunswick's native wildlife species. The foliage feeds grouse and large and small mammals, from moose to red squirrels, while the seeds nourish small mammals like squirrels and mice, as well as birds like the black-capped chickadee, the province's official bird.

The Balsam Fir is an important part of the economy in New Brunswick, with thousands of jobs depending on the trees that forestry companies grow and harvest for softwood lumber. However, the province's most common tree species is facing a potential decline due to climate change, according to local scientists. Warmer temperatures may lead to a decrease in the population of Balsam Firs and promote the regeneration of hardwood species such as birch and maple.

Provincial soil: Holmesville soil

The Holmesville Soil Series, or Holmesville Soil, is the official provincial soil of New Brunswick, Canada. It was designated as such in 1997. This soil type is a gravelly sandy loam or gravelly loam soil, with less than 20% clay and 15-30% coarse fragments. It is well-drained yet moisture-retentive, making it ideal for farming. The parent material of the soil is a moderately compact glacial till, and the bedrock from which it is derived is largely quartzite with admixtures of argillite, slate, schist, and shale. This diversity of sources contributes to the fertility of the soil.

Holmesville Soil is a major agricultural soil, providing high yields of both agricultural and forest crops. It is particularly well-suited for growing potatoes, which make up a significant portion of New Brunswick's potato output. In addition, cattle are raised on this soil for their beef and milk. A wide variety of trees also grow well on Holmesville Soil, supporting the province's lumber industry.

The colour of the soil is reflected in New Brunswick's provincial tartan, which features forest green, representing lumbering, and meadow green, representing agriculture. The tartan also includes blue, symbolising coastal and inland waters, gold, symbolising the province's potential wealth, and red, representing the devotion of the early Loyalist settlers and the Royal New Brunswick Regiment.

The Holmesville Soil Series is located in Carleton County, near Florenceville, in western New Brunswick. This soil type is an important natural resource for the province, contributing to its agricultural, forestry, and livestock industries.

Provincial tartan: forest green, meadow green, blue, gold and red

The official tartan of New Brunswick was commissioned by William Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook, in 1959 and designed by the Loomcrofters in Gagetown, New Brunswick. It was officially adopted as the provincial tartan in the same year by an Order in Council. The tartan features five colours: forest green, meadow green, blue, gold, and red. Each colour symbolises a different element of the province. Forest green represents lumbering, meadow green represents agriculture, and blue represents coastal and inland waters. Gold symbolises the province's potential wealth, and red symbolises the devotion and loyalty of the early Loyalist settlers and the Royal New Brunswick Regiment.

The tartan's design reflects New Brunswick's historical industries of lumbering, agriculture, and fishing. The forest green and meadow green colours honour the province's strong connection to forestry and agriculture, while the blue represents the coastal and inland waters that have been essential for transportation, trade, and seafood. The gold in the tartan signifies the province's potential wealth, reflecting a hopeful vision for the future. The red in the tartan pays tribute to the courage, loyalty, and devotion of the early Loyalist settlers, who played a significant role in shaping New Brunswick's history and culture. It also recognises the valour and dedication of the Royal New Brunswick Regiment, highlighting the province's proud military heritage.

The tartan's intricate pattern, with its combination of vibrant and earthy tones, embodies the beauty and diversity of New Brunswick's landscape, from its lush forests to its fertile agricultural lands and majestic waterways. The inclusion of the colours in the tartan showcases the province's natural resources and the industries that have contributed to its economic growth and cultural identity.

The New Brunswick tartan is a source of pride for the province's residents and serves as a visual representation of their unique heritage. It is used in various ways, from fashion and home décor to ceremonial and official purposes, uniting the people of New Brunswick and celebrating their shared history and identity. The tartan's symbolism and aesthetic appeal make it a cherished emblem of the province, connecting its past, present, and future.

Frequently asked questions