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Use | Viceregal standard |
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Proportion | 2:3 on land 1:2 at sea (shown) |
Adopted | 1870 (original version) 1981 (current version first adopted) 2002 (current version re-adopted) |
Design | The viceregal badge (a crowned gold lion standing on a twisted wreath of red and white silk and holding a maple leaf in its right paw) featured on a navy blue background. |
The flag of the governor general of Canada is a flag used as a symbol to mark the presence of the governor general of Canada. Such a flag has been used by governors general since just after Canadian Confederation and the design has altered over decades. The current flag was adopted in 1981.
The first governor general's flag was adopted in 1870 and followed the design of other viceregal flags in use throughout the British Empire at the time: a Union Flag defaced with the shield of the coat of arms of Canada; though, in contrast to other imperial governors, the wreath surrounding the central badge was one of maple instead of laurel leaves. The design was updated in 1921 to incorporate changes to the appearance of Canada's coat of arms, and again in 1931 to reflect developments in Canada's constitutional structure brought about by the Statute of Westminster, whereby the governor general became the personal representative of the monarch of Canada, rather than a representative of the British monarch in Canada, as it was previously. Still, the composition was the same for all the governor general of the Dominions: a blue field containing, at the centre, the crest of the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom above a scroll bearing the country's name.
The current flag was first introduced in 1981 and comprises the crest of the Royal Coat of Arms of Canada—a crowned lion holding a red maple leaf in its paw, standing on a wreath of red and white (Canada's official colours)—on a blue background. Given the lion in the crest of Canada's arms holds a red maple leaf—which formed the centrepiece of the National Flag adopted in 1965—the need for the scroll showing Canada's name was eliminated. [1] The only other national viceregal flags that differ from the norm are the flag of the governor-general of New Zealand [1] —which displays the crowned shield of the coat of arms of New Zealand on a blue field—and the flag of the governor-general of Solomon Islands—which uses the common form, but with the name of the country written across a gold silhouette of a two-headed frigatebird.
While Roméo LeBlanc served as governor general, between 1995 and 1999, the flag was modified at his direction so that the lion's tongue and claws were removed, making the animal appear more "Canadian" in LeBlanc's opinion. [2] These changes were reversed in 2002, while Adrienne Clarkson was in office.
The flag is protected under the Trade-Marks Act; Section 9(c) states, "No person shall adopt in connection with a business, as a trade-mark or otherwise, any mark consisting of, or so nearly resembling as to be likely to be mistaken for [...] the standard, arms, or crest of His Excellency the Governor General." [3]
The flag is flown from the governor general's official residences—Rideau Hall and La Citadelle—and any other building the governor general is visiting. It may also be flown from any vehicle being used by the governor general. On overseas visits, the national flag is used to identify the governor general.
The flag takes precedence over the National Flag and the personal standards of any member of the royal family other than the sovereign, but not ahead of the royal standard or the flag of a lieutenant governor of a province at a function hosted by that lieutenant governor.
Flag | Date | Description |
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![]() | 1869–1901 | The Union Jack, defaced with a white circle, at the centre of which is the crowned shield of arms of Canada in 1869, surrounded by a wreath of green maple leaves. |
![]() | 1901–1921 | The Union Jack, defaced with a white circle, at the centre of which is the crowned shield of arms of Canada in 1869, surrounded by a wreath of green maple leaves. |
![]() | 1921–1931 | The Union Jack, defaced with a white circle, at the centre of which is the crowned shield of arms of Canada in 1921, surrounded by a wreath of stylize green maple leaves. |
![]() | 1931–1952 | The royal crest from the coat of arms of the United Kingdom, with 'Canada' on a golden scroll below. The crown in the crest is the Tudor crown. |
![]() | 1952–1981 | The royal crest from the coat of arms of the United Kingdom, with 'Canada' on a golden scroll below. The crown in the crest is the St. Edward's crown. |
![]() | 1981–1999 | |
![]() | 1999–2002 | Roméo LeBlanc requested that the tongue and claws of the lion be removed. The changes were reverted after the end of his tenure, during the office of Adrienne Clarkson. |
![]() | 2002–present |
The Arms of Canada, also known as the Royal Coat of Arms of Canada or, formally, as the Arms of His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, is the arms of dominion of the Canadian monarch and, thus, also the official coat of arms of Canada. In use since 1921, it is closely modelled after the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom, with French and distinctive Canadian elements replacing or added to those derived from the British version.
The original coat of arms of New Brunswick was granted to New Brunswick by a Royal Warrant of Queen Victoria on 26 May 1868. The provincial flag is a banner of the arms.
The coat of arms of Saskatchewan is the heraldic symbol representing the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.
The coat of arms of the territory of Nunavut was granted by a warrant of Roméo LeBlanc, Governor General of Canada, dated 31 March 1999, one day before the territory of Nunavut, Canada, was created. The same document specified the flag of Nunavut.
The coat of arms of Quebec was adopted by order-in-council of the Government of Quebec on 9 December 1939, replacing the arms assigned by royal warrant of Queen Victoria on 26 May 1868.
The provincial flag of Saskatchewan was adopted in 1969. It is blazoned per fess vert and or, in the fly a prairie lily slipped and leaved proper, in the dexter chief an escutcheon of the coat of arms of Saskatchewan fimbriated argent. The symbolism within the flag is shown just with the colours; yellow representing the grain fields in the southern portion of the province where as the green represents the northern forested areas. The western red lily in the fly of the flag is the provincial flower. In 2017, The Minister of Parks, Culture and Sports designated September 22 as Saskatchewan Flag Day.
The coat of arms of Ontario is the armorial emblem representing the Canadian province of Ontario. The arms contain symbols reflecting Ontario's British heritage, along with local symbols. At the upper part of the shield is the red cross of St. George, representing England. The lower portion of the shield features three golden maple leaves on a green background.
The coat of arms of Australia, officially called the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, is the formal symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia. A shield, depicting symbols of Australia's six states, is held up by native Australian animals, the kangaroo and the emu. The seven-pointed Commonwealth Star surmounting the crest also represents the states and territories, while the national floral emblem appears below the shield.
The royal standards of Canada are a set of uniquely Canadian personal flags used by members of the Canadian royal family. They are used to denote the presence of the bearer within any car, ship, airplane, building, or area, within Canada or when representing Canada abroad. The current flag for the Canadian monarch was unveiled on 6 May 2023, the day of King Charles III's coronation.
The coat of arms of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, was designed by Robert Watt, the Chief Herald of Canada at the time, for the City of Toronto after its amalgamation in 1998. The arms were granted by the Canadian Heraldic Authority on 11 January 1999.
The Canadian Red Ensign served as a nautical flag and civil ensign for Canada from 1892 to 1965, and later as the de facto flag of Canada before 1965. The flag is a British Red Ensign, with the Royal Union Flag in the canton, adorned with the shield of the coat of arms of Canada.
The coat of arms of New Zealand is the heraldic symbol representing the South Pacific island country of New Zealand. Its design reflects New Zealand's history as a bicultural nation, with a European female figure on one side and a Māori rangatira (chief) on the other. The symbols on the central shield represent New Zealand's trade, agriculture and industry, and a Crown represents New Zealand's status as a constitutional monarchy.
The first coat of arms of Montreal was designed by Jacques Viger, the first mayor of Montreal, and adopted in 1833 by the city councillors. Modifications were made some one hundred five years later and adopted on 21 March 1938, and again on 13 September 2017, resulting in the version currently in use. The coat of arms was the only city emblem representing Montreal until 1981, when a stylized logo was developed for common daily use, reserving the coat of arms for ceremonial occasions.
The Canadian Heraldic Authority is part of the Canadian honours system under the Canadian monarch, whose authority is exercised by the Governor General of Canada. The authority is responsible for the creation and granting of new coats of arms, flags, and badges for Canadian citizens, government agencies, municipal, civic and other corporate bodies. The authority also registers existing armorial bearings granted by other recognized heraldic authorities, approves military badges, flags, and other insignia of the Canadian Forces, and provides information on heraldic practices. It is well known for its innovative designs, many incorporating First Nations symbolism.
The royal arms of Scotland is the official coat of arms of the King of Scots first adopted in the 12th century, and endures as one of the most recognisable national symbols of Scotland. The flying of the arms in banner form is considered one of the great privileges of the office of the First Minister of Scotland as its usage is granted by the monarch for the First Minister to use. Today, the Royal Arms are most commonly referred to as the Royal Banner, or more commonly, the Lion Rampant.
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The flag of the governor-general of New Zealand is an official flag of New Zealand and is flown continuously on buildings and other locations when a governor-general is present. The flag in its present form was adopted in 2008 and is a blue field with the shield of the New Zealand coat of arms royally crowned. The official heraldic description is "A flag of a blue field thereon the Arms of New Zealand ensigned by the Royal Crown all proper".
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Queen Elizabeth II had a variety of flags to represent her personally and as head of state of several independent nations around the world. They were usually used on any building, ship, car, or aircraft where she was present.