The Flag of British Columbia: Mountains, Sea, and Setting Sun

A Flag That Captures Geography

British Columbia’s flag was adopted on June 20, 1960, making it one of the earlier provincial flags. It is based directly on the provincial coat of arms, which were granted by King Edward VII in 1906.

Design and Symbolism

The flag is a banner of the provincial arms. The upper portion features the Union Jack with a golden crown at centre, representing British Columbia’s colonial heritage. The lower portion depicts a golden half-sun setting over blue and white wavy lines representing the Pacific Ocean, symbolizing BC’s position as Canada’s westernmost province — where the sun sets over the sea.

The Union Jack in the upper half acknowledges the province’s origins as a British colony (it was established as the Colony of British Columbia in 1858, joining Confederation in 1871). The wavy blue and white lines are a distinctive element that makes BC’s flag one of the more visually striking in Canada.