The flag of the governor general of Canada is a
flag
A flag is a piece of fabric (most often rectangular or quadrilateral) with a distinctive design and colours. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design empl ...
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.
Design
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.
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. This design differs from that of the flags of
governors-general in the other
Commonwealth realm
A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state in the Commonwealth of Nations whose monarch and head of state is shared among the other realms. Each realm functions as an independent state, equal with the other realms and nations of the Commonwealt ...
s; most feature the royal crest of the
arms of the United Kingdom above a scroll bearing the relevant country's name; the
flag of the governor-general of New Zealand displays the crowned shield of the
coat of arms of New Zealand
The coat of arms of New Zealand ( mi, Te Tohu Pakanga o Aotearoa) 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 figur ...
on a blue field.
While
Roméo LeBlanc served as governor general (1995-1999), the flag was, at LeBlanc's direction, modified: the lion's tongue and claws were removed, which made the animal appear, in LeBlanc's opinion, more "Canadian".
These changes were reversed in 2002.
Use
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
A national flag is a flag that represents and symbolizes a given nation. It is flown by the government of that nation, but usually can also be flown by its citizens. A national flag is typically designed with specific meanings for its colours ...
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
A royal family is the immediate family of kings/queens, emirs/emiras, sultans/ sultanas, or raja/ rani and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an emperor or empress, and the term ...
other than the sovereign, but not ahead of the
royal standard or the flag of a
lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...
of a province at a function hosted by that lieutenant governor.
Legal
The flag is protected under the Trade-marks Act; Section 9(c) states:
Historical versions
See also
*
Canadian royal symbols
*
Flags of the lieutenant governors of Canada
*
List of Canadian flags
*
National symbols of Canada
References
External links
Governor General's Flag– Governor General's official website
''Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges'': Governor General of Canada ''The Flags of Canada'', by Alistair B. Fraser
{{Flags, Banners and Standards of Heads of State and Government
Governor General
Flags displaying animals