New Brunswick's Iconic Provincial Symbol

New Brunswick, one of Canada's Maritime Provinces, has several official symbols. The flag of New Brunswick, adopted in 1965, features a golden lion on a red field in the upper third, and a sailing ship with oars on blue and white wavy lines in the bottom two-thirds. The flag is modelled after the province's coat of arms, granted by Queen Victoria in 1868. The upper third of the shield is red with a gold lion, symbolising New Brunswick's ties to Britain, while the lower part displays an ancient galley, reflecting the province's historical shipbuilding industry.

Other symbols of New Brunswick include the black-capped chickadee, the official bird since 1983; the balsam fir, the official tree since 1987; the purple violet, the official flower since 1936; and the provincial tartan, officially adopted in 1959.

The flag of New Brunswick

The flag's proportions are four by length and two and one-half by width, and it has an aspect ratio of 5:8. The official colour scheme follows the Pantone Matching System. The colours and symbols of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The gold lion in the upper third of the flag alludes to either the Royal Arms of England or the coat of arms of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Both states had ties to New Brunswick – the former was its colonial ruler from 1713 until the Confederation in 1867, while the latter lends its name to the province.

On the other hand, the lymphad occupying the bottom two-thirds of the flag may evoke New Brunswick's historical shipbuilding industry or the ships used by numerous Loyalists fleeing the United States in the aftermath of the American Revolutionary War. Although shipbuilding was New Brunswick's dominant economic activity at the time the coat of arms was assigned, the industry declined significantly after the Confederation, leading to a period of recession in the province.

When flown together with the flag of Canada and the other provincial and territorial flags, the flag of New Brunswick is fifth in the order of precedence (after the national flag and, in descending order of precedence, the flags of Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia). Even though New Brunswick entered the Confederation on the same date as those three provinces (July 1, 1867), it is placed last among the group since its population at the time was the smallest.

The coat of arms of New Brunswick

The crest, an Atlantic salmon leaping from a golden helmet and a coronet of maple leaves, is marked with St. Edward's crown—all symbols of royal authority. The motto, 'Spem reduxit', means 'Hope Restored' and refers to the province providing refuge for Loyalists fleeing after the American Revolution.

The supporters are white-tailed deer collared with Maliseet wampum, bearing badges of the Union colours and the fleurs-de-lis of royal France. These commemorate the colonisation of the area by British and French powers. The compartment, or base, of the coat of arms is covered by the provincial flower, the purple violet, and the fiddlehead, an edible fern native to New Brunswick.

The provincial bird: the black-capped chickadee

The black-capped chickadee, with its distinctive song, energetic nature and acrobatic movements, is a beloved symbol of New Brunswick. The small bird, with its black cap and bib, white downy cheeks and blush-coloured underbelly, was proclaimed the official bird of the province in 1983. This followed a contest run by the New Brunswick Federation of Naturalists.

The black-capped chickadee is a cheerful, friendly and trusting bird, which is often one of the first to offer a greeting to people walking along paths in New Brunswick's forests. Weighing about the same as three pennies, it is a wonder that these masked birds are able to survive the harsh winter months. They are resourceful, caching their food during winter and setting up a "winter pantry" with food sources that can be scarce. It has been observed that chickadees can remember up to a thousand spots where they have hidden food.

The black-capped chickadee is also a contender for Canada's national bird. In 2016, it was shortlisted by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, which noted that the bird is "cheerful, outgoing, friendly, accepting, trusting and tough enough to withstand cold, snowy winters". The black-capped chickadee was up against the common loon, snowy owl, grey jack/whisky jack and the Canada goose. Although it received the fewest votes, the winner was to be decided by a panel of six experts.

The black-capped chickadee is native to New Brunswick and can be seen in the province all year round. Its distinctive song can be heard throughout the year, and it sings a high-pitched song to welcome the arrival of spring. The black-capped chickadee is easily recognisable and is a popular visitor to bird feeders, where it is partial to black oil sunflower seeds and shelled, unsalted peanuts.

The official flower: the purple violet

The purple violet, or Viola cucullata, is the official flower of New Brunswick, Canada. This floral emblem was officially adopted on December 1, 1936, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Women's Institute, the Lieutenant Governor, and the province's schoolchildren.

The purple violet is a modest plant, typically growing to a height of five to ten inches. It thrives in moist meadows and along stream banks, and its blossoms can range from purple to dark blue. This particular violet species is stemless, with leaves and flower stalks growing directly from the rootstock. While it is typically considered a spring flower, it can sometimes bloom as late as October.

The purple violet is a relative of the pansy and is also known as the marsh blue violet. It is native to Eastern Canada and can be found in wet meadows and woodlands. In New Brunswick, the purple violet grows especially well in fields, lawns, and gardens, making it a common sight during early summer.

The flowers of the purple violet have various uses beyond their aesthetic value. They are often used to make jams and syrups, and are believed to have medicinal properties that can soothe the digestive tract and suppress coughs.

The choice of the purple violet as the official flower of New Brunswick reflects the province's natural beauty and the involvement of its community in preserving and celebrating that beauty.

The official tree: the balsam fir

New Brunswick, one of Canada's Maritime Provinces, has established several provincial symbols. One of these is the balsam fir, which was adopted as the province's official tree in 1987.

The balsam fir, or Abies balsamea, is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree. It is native to most of eastern and central Canada, as well as the northeastern United States. The tree typically grows to a height of 14 to 20 metres (46 to 66 feet), though occasionally it can reach up to 27 metres (89 feet). The balsam fir has a narrow conic crown made up of dense, dark-green leaves. The bark of young balsam fir trees is smooth and grey, with resin blisters that tend to spray when ruptured. As the tree ages, the bark becomes rough and fissured or scaly.

The balsam fir is best recognised as a Christmas tree, accounting for 97% of New Brunswick's Christmas tree industry. It is also a staple of the province's lumber industry, as its unusually long wood fibres are perfect for making high-quality paper. Balsam firs are shade-tolerant and tend to grow in cool, moist climates. They are commonly found in swamps, flat areas, hardwood slopes, and mountain tops.

For thousands of years, Native Americans have used the balsam fir for medicinal and therapeutic purposes. The needles can be ingested directly off the tree or brewed into a tea. The balsam fir is also known for its fragrant aroma, which comes from the chemicals in its needles that mimic a growth hormone that interferes with normal insect metamorphosis. This natural insect repellent gives the balsam fir a unique defence mechanism against insect feeders.

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