Public Flag, Tartan Images
The flag of Nova Scotia was the first flag in the overseas Commonwealth to be authorized by Royal Charter. Derived from the ancient Arms granted in 1625 by King Charles I, it is a symbol of the crown in the right of the province. It is now flown on provincial buildings and on public and private flagstaffs throughout the province.
The flag has had variations in colour and shape over its long history.
The current flag design is on a ground of white with a blue (Pantone 293 approx.) St. Andrew's cross. The Royal Arms of Scotland is arranged as an escutcheon (within a shield shape) upon the St. Andrew's cross gold/yellow (Pantone 122 approx) with red (Pantone 186 approx) lion rampant. The lion is within a double border of red. The border contains eight fleur-de-lis one on each corner and one between each corner each depicted top or bottom from each border starting with upper left corner up, next down, right corner up, etc., but not spanning across the borders. All red is outlined with black.
The width of the flag is twice its height.
Use of the Nova Scotia flag in a respectful manner as a symbol of the Province of Nova Scotia is permitted.
Nova Scotia flag - flat view
High resolution .tif file (7.3 MB)
EPS vector file (852 KB)
Nova Scotia flag - 3D view
High resolution .tif file (5.1 MB)
Nova Scotia Tartan
An image of the Nova Scotia tartan is available here. Note that it is in .tif format.
Historic Description of the Flag
The original flag design, based upon the Ancient Arms of Nova Scotia, granted by King Charles I in 1625, is on a ground of silver with a saltire azure - a blue St. Andrew's cross. The Royal Arms of Scotland are arranged as an escutcheon (within a shield shape) upon the St. Andrew's cross - gold with red lion rampant with blue tongue and claws (armed and langued azure). The lion is within a double border of red. The border contains eight fleur-de-lis - one on each corner and one between each corner - each depicted top or bottom from each border starting with upper left corner up, next down, right corner up, etc., but not spanning across the borders. The breadth of the flag is three-quarters of the length.