Every province and territory has an escutcheon.

Also known as the provincial or territorial shield, each one represents the history, culture and landscapes of the provinces and territories.

These are the stories behind the provincial\territorial escutcheons.

British Columbia:

Adopted in 1906, it was granted by King Edward VII. It features the Union Jack with a crown, the blue lines represent the ocean and the sun setting on the Pacific Ocean. The provincial flag is heavily based off the shield.

Alberta:

Adopted officially in September 2013, it has long been part of the coat of arms and provincial flag. It features St. George's Cross at the top, along with three different landscapes to represent the province. The wheat honours Alberta's agricultural history.

Saskatchewan:

Adopted on Aug. 25, 1906, the shield of arms was granted by the Royal Warrant of King Edward VII. The shield is found in the coat of arms and provincial flag. It features a lion to represent England, and three sheaves of wheat.

Manitoba:

Adopted on May 10, 1905 by the Royal Warrant King Edward VII, the design is based on the 1870 Great Seal of Manitoba. The bison represents the history and First Nations and the cross on top is the St. George's Cross.

Ontario:

Adopted on May 26, 1868 by the Royal Warrant of Queen Victoria, the gold maple leaves have historically represented Ontario. It also features St. George's Cross on the top.

Quebec:

Adopted in 1868 by the Royal Warrant of Queen Victoria, it features the fleur-de-lis for the French heritage, along with the lion to represent the British heritage. The pre-Confederation period is symbolized by the green leaves on a gold background.

New Brunswick:

Adopted on May 26, 1868 by a Royal Warrant of Queen Victoria, the provincial flag is based off the shield. The lion at the top is for the British heritage, while the ship is for the province's shipping history.

Nova Scotia:

The shield was adopted in 1625 by King Charles I of England. The provincial flag is based off it. The Cross of Saint Andrew and the lion alludes to divine providence and the connection to Scotland.

Prince Edward Island:

Adopted in 1905 by a Royal Warrant from King Edward VII, it is based off the Great Seal of 1769. The large oak tree signifies England, while the three smaller saplings are Kings County, Queens County and Prince County on the island.

Newfoundland and Labrador:

Adopted in 1637/38 by a Royal Warrant of King Charles I, the two unicorns represent Scotland, and the two lions represent England.

Nunavut:

Adopted in 1999, the blue and gold colours symbolize the riches of the land. It also features the midnight sun and North Star (Niqirtsuituk). The qulliq represents the warmth of community, and the inuksuk is a symbol of the territory.

Northwest Territories:

Adopted on Feb. 24, 1956, the wavy blue line represents the Northwest Passage on the white ice pack. The diagonal line is the tree line, with the green forest and red for tundra. It also includes a white fox for the fur trade history.

Yukon:

Adopted in 1956 by a Royal Warrant of Queen Elizabeth II, the lower portion represents the mountains and their mineral wealth. The wavy lines are the rivers and the red cross is for England. The vair pattern is for the fur trade history of the territory.

I hope you enjoyed that look at the Escutcheons of Canada's provinces and territories.

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