Having recognized my almost total ignorance of the provincial flags of Canada (our neighbor to the North!) I went out and found this Web site. Now that I’ve conducted a thorough study of them, I have to modify my previously stated position on the Quebec flag. It’s not bad at all, and easily the second best of the provincial flags.
The real winner, though, is Newfoundland/Labrador. Very striking and attractive, IMHO, and one of very few flags to make effective use of negative space. I really like the way the Union Jack is recalled without letting it dominate. The yellow arrow symbolizes “advancement to the future,” which is exactly what I thought it meant before I read it there on that page. It’s not quite up to the level of Maryland or New Mexico, but easily one of the best flags I’ve ever seen. (But would someone point out the outlined maple leaf? I can’t see it.)
On the other hand, *what in Og were they thinking *in Saskatchewan? From the sublime to the hideous.
Most of the rest are the Canadian equivalent of the state seal on a blue field here in the states: a too-busy provincial coat of arms slapped onto a flag. Nova Scotia is the most restrained and tasteful of the lot, but B.C. is just eye-wateringly awful. Not quite Pocatello bad, but I think Mr. Parsons would probably give it a D.
Which leaves Nunavut. Despite being representational with its inuksuk (a stone marker and monument), the overall design would have been okay (if not great) if they had just left out that damn star. It throws the whole thing off. So close, but so far. Clearly a design by committee.
In short Canada does about as well as the U.S.: a large crowd of uninspired mediocrity bracketed by a few really bad designs and a handful of great ones.
I regretfully have to admit though, that when it comes to national flags, Canada beats the U.S. hands down. Parsons agrees: A for Canada, C for U.S.