Flag of Vancouver

Flag of Vancouver
Proportion1:2
AdoptedMay 17, 1983[1]
Designed byRobert Watt

The flag of Vancouver was adopted by the Vancouver City Council on May 17, 1983.[1] It was designed by Robert Watt, the director of the Vancouver Museum at the time, and later the Chief Herald of Canada.[2][3] It features a white field with five wavy blue barrulets, and a green pentagon on the hoist side surmounted by a gold shield with the city badge, which consists of a mural crown with crossed axe and paddle.

The white and blue symbolize Vancouver's position as a natural harbour on the Pacific Ocean,[2] while the green pentagon represents the land on which the city was built, and the forests which stood on this land.[1] These elements echo the motto on the pre-1969 municipal coat of arms, By Sea and Land We Prosper. The mural crown in the city badge reflects Vancouver's status as an incorporated city,[1] while the axe and paddle stand for the city's traditional industries, logging and fishing.[2]

Prior to this flag, Vancouver had a different municipal flag which was the result of a contest held in 1978, with the winning entry submitted by Rudolph Danglemaier.[2] The flag featured a white Canadian pale flanked by a green stripe on the hoist side, and a blue stripe on the fly side. The shield, helmet, mantling and crest from the city arms were placed in the centre of the flag.[2]

  1. ^ a b c d "Vancouver City symbols". City of Vancouver. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e Croft, James (2011). "Canadian City Flags" (PDF). North American Vexillological Association. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  3. ^ Tytherleigh, Mike (June 1, 1983). "Vancouver hoists foisted flag". The Province. p. A4. Retrieved January 26, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon