This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website

Historical Flags of Saskatchewan (Canada)

Canada

Last modified: 2013-06-29 by rob raeside
Keywords: canada | saskatchewan |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors



See also:


60th Anniversary Flag

2:3 representation
[First Saskatchewan flag] image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 8 April 2006
Source: "The arms, flags and floral emblems of Canada" [c9a67]

1:2 representation
[First Saskatchewan flag] image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 8 April 2006
The Story of Canada's Flag Appendix E (web edition)

The publication "The arms, flags and floral emblems of Canada" [c9a67] has the first flag of Saskatchewan.

This flag was granted in 1964 by the Saskatchewan during the Diamond Jubilee and Canada Centennial Corporation for the province's 60th anniversary celebrations in 1965 and its participation in the centennial of Confederation in 1967. The flag is not official. Ratio 2:3.

The colours have a significant meaning: golden yellow is the symbol of ripening wheat fields; green represents the luxuriant growth; and red suggest the fires which swept the prairies in early days before cultivation.
Jaume Ollé, 22 January 1996

In 1964 the Saskatchewan government organized a competition for a distinctive flag in anticipation of the 60th anniversary of the Province. It was recommended that the colours of the provincial coat of arms, granted by royal warrant in 1906, be included. The winning flag was selected out of 241 entries and was designed by Sister Imelda of St. Angela’s Convent at Prelate. The green represented luxuriant growth while the red suggested the fires which swept the Prairies in the early days before cultivation. The Diamond Jubilee Flag of Saskatchewan first officially hoisted on January 31, 1965. The use of this flag was soon extended to the Centennial celebrations of 1967. For these events, the flag was widely flown as if it was the provincial flag, and indeed, its sponsors hoped that it would, in fact, become the provincial flag."
- from http://saskboy.wordpress.com/2010/02/12/an-early-saskatchewan-flag
Valentin Poposki, 8 July 2012


Lt. Governor flag, 1906-1981

[Lt. Governor, Saskatchewan, 1906-81] image by Martin Grieve

The arms, shield only, were granted 25 August 1906. As happened with Alberta, the shield was not shown as a badge in the Admiralty Flag Book, even though all the earlier provincial badges were still shown. The flag may possible have been used on land for a few years after 1906; it was used as a car flag from 1958 - 1963. The current Lt-Governor's flag was approved 26 September 1981. The arms of Saskatchewan were augmented; crest, supporters, motto etc., by royal warrant 16 September 1986.
David Prothero, 11 November 2002


Saskatchewan "historic" flag on a postcard

The site of the Saskatchewan Council for Archives and Archivists shows a postcard with Red Ensign with Saskatchewan badge on it. When you lay the mouse on it, it reads "Historic Saskatchewan Flag". I didn't find any explanation.
Valentin Poposki, 15 April 2007


I am an archivist here at the Saskatchewan Archives and a flag enthusiast, I have mentioned this flag to those who created the website.

It is my opinion that no such flag has ever existed for Saskatchewan, officially or unofficially. The use of the Red Ensign with the Saskatchewan arms in the fly was likely created from the imagination of the postcard artist or publisher. Postcard collectors may know of similar cards from this series for other provinces. The postcard probably dates from the early 1900s to 1910s.

Tim Novak, 18 July 2007
Archivist
Saskatchewan Archives Board