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Coast Guard, Canada

Garde côtière canadienne

image by Blas Delgado and Miles Li, 23 July 2023

Canadian Coast Guard
Jack
Coast Guard Crest
Canadian Hydrographic Services
Canadian Marine Rescue Auxiliary
Coast Guard Auxiliary

See also:

Canadian Coast Guard

Flag approved by the CHA on October 20, 2022. This appears to be an assistant commissioner's flag.
https://www.gg.ca/en/heraldry/public-register/project/3473

Flag of the Canadian Coast Guard
Blazon
A swallow-tailed pennant per pale Argent and Azure, in hoist two maple leaves in pale Gules.

Symbolism
The swallow-tailed shape is a version of the Commissioner's rectangular flag. The red maple leaves on white and the blue section are elements found in other flags of the Canadian Coast Guard.
Dave Fowler, 19 July 2023

The forerunner of the Canadian Coast Guard was the Canadian Marine Service, whose 'personal flags' were illustrated in Flags of All Nations Volume 2 [hms58]. These flags have remained in use by the Canadian Coast Guard since its establishment in 1962, and formed the basic template of the Canadian Coast Guard Jack. Then the shape of the maple leaves on these flags were altered to match that on the Canadian National Flag adopted in 1965.

These and several other flags were formally granted to the Canadian Coast Guard by the Canadian Heraldic Authority on June 15, 1992 (Vol. II, p. 175), and the announcement of the letters patent was made on July 25, 1992 in Volume 126, page 2304 of the Canada Gazette (https://www.gg.ca/en/heraldry/public-register/project/1590). Several more flags were likewise granted to the Canadian Coast Guard on later dates.
Miles Li, 23 July 2023

Jack

image by Blas Delgado and Miles Li, 23 July 2023

These flags came into force in 1962 at the same time as the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) Crest. Blue ensigns have been flown on CCG Vessels between 1870 and 1965 with the different official shields, then the red and white maple leaf flag.
Bernard Collin, 03 December, 1999

The ratio is 1:2. It is a vertically divided flag into white and blue having ratio est. 2:1. Upon the white field is a red maple leaf. Upon the blue side are
two golden fish, probably dolphins.
Source: [Pedersen 1979a]; p.240
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 13 March 2009

Flags aboard Canadian Coast Guard ships

At the back of the Fleet orders for the use of flags on Canadian Coast Guard vessels are two charts dealing with the sizes of the flags and jacks, abstracted below:

Ship's Length less than 75 feet (22.6 m) 3 national flags, size: 1 foot 6 inches by 3 feet 2 national flags size: 2 feet 3 inches by 4 feet 6 inches 2 jacks, size: 1 foot 6 inches by 3 feet

> 75 feet and < 150 feet (45m) 4 national flags size: 2 feet 3 inches by 4 feet 6 inches 2 national flags, size: 3 feet by 6 feet 2 jacks, size: 2 feet 3 inches by 4 feet six inches

> 150 feet 4 national flags, size: 3 feet by 6 feet 2 national flags, size: 4 feet, 6 inches by 9 feet 2 jacks, size: 3 feet by 6 feet
Phil Nelson 23 December 1999, from Fleet orders provided by Bernard Collin

On flying flags aboard Canadian Coast Guard ships

The personal Flag of a Head of State is to be hoisted and worn continuously at the main masthead, or equivalent position, whenever any of the following personages are aboard:

a. The Sovereign;
b. The Governor General;
c. The Lieutenant-Governor of a province when the ship is in the waters of that province;
d. A member of The Royal Family (i.e. the family of the Sovereign of Canada)
e. A foreign Head of State; or
f. A member of a foreign reigning Royal Family.

At night, the Flag(s) of Head of State may be illuminated.

Flags of Head of State are never put at half-mast.

The hours that are related to hoisting, shifting or striking a Flag of a Head of State are to be recorded in the ship's log.

On the flags of the provinces, it is noted that they are worn on the port yardarm or equivalent position on a provincial holiday if the ship is based in that province and actually in the waters of the province at the time; when the Lieutenant-Governor of the province is aboard provided that the ship is based in the province; and when the Premier of member of the Executive Council of the province in which the ship is situation is aboard.

The Canadian flag on the CCG vessels are half-masted for official mourning when authorized by the Commissioner of the CCG and in the presence of any warship or government ship having their colors half-masted. When a member of the ship's complement has died in service aboard, the directive states the flag may be half-masted to mark the mourning and when a funeral service is conducted aboard the vessel. Half-masting is defined as being hauled up and lowered to a position about 2/3 of the hoist.
Phil Nelson 23 December 1999, from Fleet orders provided by Bernard Collin

Coast Guard Crest

image by Bernard Collin

Canadian Hydrographic Services

Flag
contributed by Jan Mertens 2 October 2005
Source: Boatnerd

Crest
image by Bernard Collin

Canadian Marine Rescue Auxiliary

1:2 image by Blas Delgado and Miles Li, 24 July 2023

https://www.gg.ca/en/heraldry/public-register/project/1590 describes it as "A triangular pennant Argent adextré and charged with a maple leaf Gules impaling Azure a dolphin naiant contourné Or", and notes "The pennant evokes the Canadian flag and is a modification of the Canadian Coast Guard Jack, making the auxiliary ships distinct from the Canadian Coast Guard fleet. This emblem combines the red and white colours of Canada with the blue of waterways. The maple leaf evokes Canada and the dolphin represents the ships that ply the coasts of Canada. As well, dolphins are regarded as ancient talismans and helpers of all mariners."

Granted among other flags to the Canadian Coast Guard by the Canadian Heraldic Authority on June 15, 1992 (Vol. II, p. 175), and the announcement of the letters patent was made on July 25, 1992 in Volume 126, page 2304 of the Canada Gazette.
Miles Li, 24 July 2023

Coast Guard Auxiliary

image by Miles Li, 24 July 2023

The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary is similar to the Canadian Marine Rescue Auxiliary pennant, above, but with a silver dolphin.
Jan Mertens 2 October 2005

Pennant described as "per pale Argent and Azure dexter a maple leaf Gules, sinister a dolphin naiant contourné Argent, the whole adextré Gules" at https://www.gg.ca/en/heraldry/public-register/project/2331. The symbolism evokes the Canadian flag. The dolphin is white (heraldic Argent) to differentiate the pennant of the Auxiliary fleet from the pennant of the main fleet, whose corresponding element is yellow (heraldic Or).
Miles Li, 8 March 2014

Granted to the Canadian Coast Guard by the Canadian Heraldic Authority on April 20, 2012 (Vol. VI, p. 136), and the announcement of the letters patent was made on November 3, 2012 in Volume 146, page 3053 of the Canada Gazette (https://www.gg.ca/en/heraldry/public-register/project/2331).
Proportions 1:2.
Miles Li, 24 July 2023