Flag of Prince Edward Island
oak tree on a green island in the bottom white field, surrounded on three sides by a border of red and white rectangles. |
The flag of Prince Edward Island consists of a golden
History
The French first settled in modern-day
Responsible government was accorded to Prince Edward Islanders in 1851.[1][2] The territory hosted the Charlottetown Conference in 1864, which culminated in Canadian Confederation three years later on July 1, 1867, between the Province of Canada (consisting of modern-day Ontario and Quebec), Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.[4] Although the island was consequently dubbed the "Cradle of Confederation",[1] it initially opted not to join due to lack of popular support.[2] However, major economic troubles on the island led it to reconsider and eventually acquiesce to confederation. It officially joined the Dominion of Canada exactly six years later on July 1, 1873.[4] Subsequently, King Edward VII issued a Royal Warrant on May 30, 1905, allowing Prince Edward Island to utilize their own coat of arms.[3][5] The shield was derived from the Great Seal of 1769,[6] with the addition of a gold lion on a red chief.[3]
In the time leading up to the Canadian Centennial in 1967, Conrad Swan – the first Canadian to be appointed to the College of Arms in London – was invited to design a flag for Prince Edward Island. He created an armorial banner based on the province's coat of arms and included a fimbriation of alternating red and white rectangles on the outer three sides of the flag.[3] The Act of Legislature that tabled this flag received royal assent on March 24, 1964.[3][5]
In a 2001 online survey conducted by the North American Vexillological Association, Prince Edward Island's flag ranked within the top third of state, provincial and territorial flags from Canada, the United States, and select current and former territories of the United States. It finished in 21st place out of 72, and placed fifth among official Canadian flags after Quebec, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, and New Brunswick.[7][8]
Design
Description
The flag of Prince Edward Island is described in detail in the Provincial Flag Act,
Symbolism
The colours and symbols of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. According to vexillologist
The oak tree on Prince Edward Island's coat of arms (and by extension, its flag) is surmised to be Quercus rubra (red oak). This was adopted as the provincial tree in 1987. However, it has not been officially identified as such with regard to the arms.[17]
Protocol
Advice regarding
In addition to the dates set out by the
The guidelines also state that the flag is not to touch the ground, nor should it be used to cover a table or seat. It ought to be hoisted at sunrise and lowered before sunset, unless the flag is illuminated by floodlight throughout the night. The provincial flag should not be flown on the same flagpole that displays another flag. The only exception to this is if the other flag is the banner of an organization, in which case it is to be flown underneath the flag of Prince Edward Island if individual flagpoles are not available. It is not to be employed at an unveiling ceremony to cover a statue, monument, or plaque, nor should it be situated between the ground tier and platform tier at the front of a stage.[12]
Notes
- ^ The official proportions of the flag are "six feet in the fly and four feet in the hoist inclusive of the fringe or band".[9] However, the figures are divided by their lowest common denominator of two.
References
- ^ a b c d O'Grady, Brendan Anthony; Baldacchino, Godfrey (April 6, 2021). "Prince Edward Island – History". Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Holman, H.t.; Robb, Andrew (April 8, 2009). "Prince Edward Island". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Smith, Whitney (June 20, 2014). "Flag of Prince Edward Island". Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ a b Tattrie, Jon (November 18, 2014). "Prince Edward Island and Confederation". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Prince Edward Island (PE) – Facts, Flags and Symbols". Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Government of Canada. November 12, 2010. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Province of Prince Edward Island [Civil Institution]". Canadian Heraldic Authority. The Governor General of Canada. July 15, 2011. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- ^ Kaye, Ted (June 10, 2001). "New Mexico tops state/provincial flags survey, Georgia loses by wide margin". Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
- ^ "Flag-lovers flower Quebec's fleur-de-lis with a rosy ranking". NewsBank. June 2001. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
- ^ a b c d The Provincial Flag Act (PDF) (P-27). Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island. 1964. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 21, 2021.
- ^ "Prince Edward Island's provincial symbols". Department of Canadian Heritage. Government of Canada. August 15, 2017. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- ^ "Province of Prince Edward Island [Civil Institution]". Canadian Heraldic Authority. The Governor General of Canada. November 15, 2010. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Guidelines for Flying and Displaying the Provincial Flag and Other Flags and Standards in the Province of Prince Edward Island" (PDF). Executive Council Office. Government of Prince Edward Island. February 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- ^ ISBN 9781771381116.
- ^ "Provincial Flag". Office of Protocol. Government of Prince Edward Island. July 1, 2015. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- ^ "Table 15.7 Land and freshwater area, by province and territory". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. October 7, 2016. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
- ISBN 9780756654863.
- ^ "Provincial Tree". Office of Protocol. Government of Prince Edward Island. May 26, 2015. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
- ^ "About the Office of Protocol". Office of Protocol. Government of Prince Edward Island. February 20, 2020. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- ^ "Position of honour of the National Flag of Canada – With flags of the Canadian provinces and territories". Department of Canadian Heritage. Government of Canada. January 9, 2018. Archived from the original on May 10, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- ^ "Did you know…?". Department of Canadian Heritage. Government of Canada. December 17, 2019. Archived from the original on May 10, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.