Lion Emblem: New Brunswick's Pride

The flag of New Brunswick features a golden lion on a red background in its upper third. The lion is a reference to the province's ties to Britain and the Duchy of Brunswick in Germany. The Duchy of Brunswick was an hereditament of the British Crown at the time of the foundation of the province, and the province was named in honour of the reigning British monarch, King George III, who was also Duke of Brunswick. The gold lion also alludes to the Royal Arms of England, with its three lions on a red backdrop.

The lion's symbolism of courage and royalty

The lion on the New Brunswick flag is steeped in a rich history and powerful symbolism. The province's flag, adopted in 1965, features a golden lion on a red background in its upper third, with a lymphad (ancient galley) on a golden background in the remaining two-thirds. This design is based on the provincial coat of arms, granted by Queen Victoria in 1868. The lion symbolises courage and royalty, reflecting the province's historical connections and paying homage to its past.

The lion's association with courage is deeply rooted in heraldic tradition. Throughout history, the lion has been revered as the "king of beasts," symbolising strength and bravery. In the context of New Brunswick, the lion represents the province's connection to England and the British monarchy. The gold lion on a red field resembles the Royal Arms of England, featuring three lions on a red backdrop. This similarity underscores New Brunswick's ties to the British Crown and the colonial rule that extended until the Confederation in 1867.

The lion also symbolises royalty and sovereignty. Its presence on the flag pays tribute to the Duchy of Brunswick in Germany, the ancestral home of King George III, after whom the province was named in 1784. The arms of the Duchy of Brunswick feature two golden lions on a red field, similar to the design on the New Brunswick flag. This connection to the German duchy highlights the historical union between Great Britain and the Hanoverians, which was dissolved in 1837.

The lion's symbolism extends beyond its association with England and Germany. It also represents the province's French heritage. The lion is a prominent symbol in the coat of arms of English King Richard the Lionheart, who had French origins. Additionally, the lion evokes the memory of Henry the Lion, a member of the House of Welf, a powerful German territorial electorate during the Middle Ages. Henry the Lion erected a bronze statue of a lion in the city of Braunschweig as a symbol of his power, and this statue remains one of the city's most recognisable landmarks.

The lion on the New Brunswick flag, therefore, serves as a powerful symbol of the province's complex history and cultural influences. It reflects the interplay between England, France, and Germany in shaping the region's identity. The lion's symbolism of courage and royalty unifies these diverse historical threads, providing a sense of pride and unity for the people of New Brunswick.

The Duchy of Brunswick's coat of arms

The Duchy of Brunswick in Germany, also known as Brunswick-Lüneburg, was the ancestral home of King George III, who was also Duke of Brunswick. The province of New Brunswick was established in 1784 and named after the German duchy, which was in King George III's possession at the time. The lion on the New Brunswick flag and coat of arms symbolises the province's relationship with the Duchy of Brunswick, as well as its ties to England.

The lion on the New Brunswick flag is described as being 'passant' or 'mid-stride', and is positioned above a lymphad, an ancient galley or ship. The lymphad is depicted sailing on an 'heraldic sea' of blue and white wavy bars. This design is based on the province's original great seal, which featured a sailing ship on water. The ship is thought to represent the shipbuilding industry, which was one of New Brunswick's main economic activities when the coat of arms was assigned in 1868.

The coat of arms of New Brunswick was granted by Queen Victoria in 1868, and the flag based on this design was adopted by proclamation in 1965.

The Royal Arms of England

The lion on the New Brunswick flag may refer to the Royal Arms of England, which features three gold lions on a red background. The Royal Arms of England has been used since the 1200s, when it was adopted by the Plantagenet kings. The design has changed over the years, but the three lions have remained a constant feature.

The shield at the centre of the Royal Arms of England displays the various royal emblems of the United Kingdom. The first and fourth quarters contain the three lions of England, the second quarter contains the lion of Scotland, and the third quarter contains the harp of Ireland. The shield is supported by the English lion on the left and a Scottish unicorn on the right. Above the shield is the Royal Crown, and below it is the motto of the Sovereign: "Dieu et mon droit" ("God and my right"). The plant badges of the United Kingdom—a rose, a thistle, and a shamrock—are often displayed beneath the shield.

The separate Scottish and English quarterings of the Royal Arms originated from the Union of the Crown in 1603, when the Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland were united under James VI and I. The Scottish version of the coat of arms reflects this, with the lion of Scotland in the first and fourth quarters and the lion of England in the second quarter. The harp of Ireland is in the third quarter. The mottoes on the Scottish version are "In defence" and "Nemo une impune lacessit" ("No one will attack me with impunity").

The province's shipbuilding history

The province of New Brunswick has a rich shipbuilding history, with the industry playing a significant role in its economic development. The earliest record of shipbuilding in the Maritimes dates back to 1606, when two small boats were constructed at Port Royal. However, it wasn't until the 1760s, following the arrival of settlers from New England, that a shipbuilding firm was established in St. John, which later became the largest shipbuilding centre in the region.

New Brunswick was the first Maritime province to develop a significant shipbuilding industry. The industry was encouraged by Governor Cornwallis at Halifax, who offered a bounty of ten shillings per ton for every new vessel produced. The growing population in the late 1700s and early 1800s also contributed to the development of the industry, as there was a need to build large ships to export the region's abundant natural resources, such as timber and fish.

Saint John, the largest shipbuilding centre, was home to the Saint John Shipbuilding company, which operated from 1923 to 2003. The shipyard constructed various vessels, including ferries, oil tankers, freighters, and even warships. The company also built passenger-vehicle ferries for Canadian Pacific Railway and CN Marine, showcasing their versatility and expertise.

Other major shipbuilding centres in New Brunswick included St. Martin's and Miramichi. The province's shipbuilding industry was so prominent that it was featured on the provincial coat of arms, with the "lymphad" (a type of galley) representing shipbuilding and navigation. This coat of arms was granted by Queen Victoria in 1868, recognising the importance of shipbuilding in New Brunswick's history.

The decline of the shipbuilding industry in New Brunswick began in the late 1990s due to changing economic conditions and federal government policy changes. The skilled workforce at shipyards like Saint John Shipbuilding gradually diminished as workers sought opportunities elsewhere. By 2003, the province's largest shipyard was permanently closed, marking an end to a long and illustrious chapter in New Brunswick's history.

The ship as a conventional heraldic representation

The ship depicted on the flag of New Brunswick is a conventional heraldic representation known as a "lymphad" or "galley", a type of sailing vessel commonly used in medieval heraldry. The lymphad is characterised by a single square sail and three or four oars, with the oars in action and the sails typically furled (wrapped around the mast). This type of vessel was chosen for the New Brunswick flag as it symbolises shipbuilding and navigation, two of the province's most important industries when the coat of arms was granted by Queen Victoria in 1868.

The lymphad is often depicted sailing on a calm sea, and by default, it faces towards the right, or "dexter" in heraldic terminology. When shown with its oars inside the ship and not visible, this is sometimes specified in the blazon (the description of the coat of arms). If the lymphad lacks a mast, sails, or oars, it may be termed a "hulk" or "hull".

The lymphad is not the only ship design used in heraldry. For example, the "drakkar" or Viking longship features a dragon's head carved into its prow and the ship's side is lined with shields. Another type is the "rowboat", a simpler craft without a mast, sails, or rudder, but with prominent oars.

The choice of a lymphad for the New Brunswick flag is thus steeped in heraldic tradition and reflects the historical importance of shipbuilding and navigation to the province.

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