About provincial and territorial symbols

Just as the beaver and hockey are naturally linked to Canada as its official national symbols, each province and territory has its own defining ones.

In this section, you will learn about the history behind the formation of each Canadian province and territory, as well as the origin of its very name. Discover the symbols – from animals to floral emblems, flags, gemstones and more – which residents in provinces and territories recognize as part of their own unique identity.

Ontario

Learn about Ontario’s symbols, which include the eastern white pine, the loon and the trillium.

Quebec

Discover the different names Quebec has had throughout its history, as well as the symbols held by our nation’s largest province.

Nova Scotia

Read up on the Acadian history of Nova Scotia – one of the first four provinces to join Confederation in 1867 – as well as its provincial symbols, including the mayflower and the wild blueberry.

New Brunswick

Browse through the symbols of New Brunswick, such as the purple violet, the black-capped chickadee and the balsam fir.

Manitoba

Study the rich history and symbols of present-day Manitoba, which was originally inhabited by the Assiniboine.

British Columbia

Find out why the Royal Union Flag holds a prominent position within the design of British Columbia’s coat of arms.

Prince Edward Island

Read about the red oak, the blue jay and the rich Charlottetown soil that symbolize Canada’s smallest province.

Saskatchewan

Explore the many symbols proudly upheld by the province of Saskatchewan, including the white-tailed deer, the Saskatoon berry and the sport of curling.

Alberta

Learn how the Canadian Pacific Railway helped the settlement of Alberta, and discover who selected the wild rose as the floral emblem for the province.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Find information on the symbols of Newfoundland and Labrador, including the most unusual floral emblem in the country.

Northwest Territories

See how the geographical diversity of the Northwest Territories is reflected in its coat of arms, along with animals native to the region.

Yukon

Discover the central role Yukon played during the Klondike Gold Rush, and see how that period in history is symbolized in the territory’s coat of arms.

Nunavut

Explore the official symbols of Nunavut, which include the Canadian Inuit dog.

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