"Known for our beautiful Peggy's Cove"
The graceful flag of Nova Scotia was the first flag in the overseas Commonwealth to be authorized by Royal Charter. It is derived from the ancient Arms granted in 1625 by King Charles I.
In response to a petition of the province in 1929, a Royal Warrant of King George V revoked the modern Arms that had been put in place with Confederation. The Ancient and Honourable Arms were restored to be "borne for the said Province of Nova Scotia upon Seals, Shields, Banners or otherwise according to the Laws of Arms.
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The flag consists of Arms, with the cross of Saint Andrew extended in a rectangle three-quarters as wide as its length. It is a symbol of the crown in the right of the province, and its use today is determined by the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council. It is now flown on provincial buildings, and on public and private flagstaffs throughout the province.
Its first usage in the modern era was on the high seas, when it flew at the masthead of many Nova Scotian merchant ships in the boisterous age of sail.
The Mayflower: The delicate pink mayflower, blooming in the forest glades in early spring, signifies Nova Scotia's coming of age.
As far back as 1820 the mayflower emerged as a native patriotic symbol, suggesting high achievement in the face of adversity. The humble evergreen from the native countryside blossoms amid the last remaining snows of winter.
From the 1830s through the end of the century, the emblematic mayflower was celebrated in songs, poetry, and political oratory. It graced the Lieutenant-Governor's chain of state, the stamps and coins of the province, and the decorative brass of its militia. Citizens displayed it on lapels, and banners, and at least two newspapers were named for the mayflower.
In 1901 by an Act of the Legislature, the Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens), commonly known as the mayflower, was declared to be the Provincial Flower of Nova Scotia, and to have been so from time immemorial.
The Crest: The Speaker of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly and branches of the Speaker's administration, such as Select Committees and the Legislative Library, are identified by the House of Assembly Crest.
This crest is derived from the Shield of Arms for the province with the addition of St. Edward's crown placed at the top of the shield. It is this crown which appears in many items of contemporary use throughout Great Britain and the Commonwealth as part of the Royal insignia chosen by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
The historic links between Nova Scotia and Great Britain are remembered in the use of the House of Assembly Crest on stationery, House of Assembly publications, and Select Committee reports.
Coat of Arms: The Ancient Arms of Nova Scotia is the oldest and grandest in all the Commonwealth countries overseas. It was granted to the Royal Province of Nova Scotia in 1625 by King Charles I in support of the first British colonial effort on the Canadian mainland.
The Arms were borne by the Baronets of Nova Scotia. The Scottish statesman Sir William Alexander (who named the province) established the British territorial claims which were later realized.
The complete Armorial Achievement includes the Arms, surmounted by a royal helm with a blue and silver scroll or mantling representing the royal cloak.
Above is the crest of heraldic symbols: two joined hands, one armoured and the other bare, supporting a spray of laurel for peace and thistle for Scotland.On the left is the mythical royal unicorn and on the right a 17th-century representation of the North American Indian. Above, the motto reads: One defends and the other conquers. Entwined with the thistle of Scotland at the base is the mayflower, floral emblem of Nova Scotia which was added in 1929.
The Nova Scotia Tartan: The Nova Scotia Tartan was the first provincial tartan in Canada. It reflects the profound contribution of the Scots to the founding of Nova Scotia, and the pioneer settlement of the old Royal Province. The very name Nova Scotia resounds with early Scottish colonial ambition; in Jacobean Latin it meant New Scotland.
Being one among many large groups of settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries, the Scots brought with them the powerful lore of the Highlands. From this, the folk art revival of the present century brought forth Nova Scotia's recent emblem.
Originally designed in 1953 for the agricultural exhibition in Truro, the popular tartan was adopted by the Province in 1955 through an Order in Council. It was later submitted for approval of the Court of the Lord Lyon King of Arms and, in 1956, was registered with Her Majesty's Register Office in Edinburgh, Scotland.
In 1964, the Tartan Act was passed by the House of Assembly. A district tartan that may be worn by anyone, its blue and white are for the surf-ridden sea, greens for the forests, red for the royal lion on the Arms of Nova Scotia, and gold for the Province's historic Royal Charter.
The Osprey: The osprey is a bird of prey that is smaller than an eagle, but larger than a hawk. They can be seen hovering in coastal areas, as they hunt for fish in bays, lakes and rivers. They make a spectacular feet-first dive for prey, and then with their powerful wings, rise up from the water carrying the fish in their talons.
They feed primarily on tomcod and flounder, or, in fresh water, they can be seen to catch suckers, perch and gaspereau.
Their nests, which are used from year to year, are massive bundles of sticks, often quite conspicuous in dead trees, power poles, and even cliff tops.
Ospreys migrate south in the fall, to the southern United States, Central and South America. Second-year birds remain in the wintering grounds over summer while the adults return to breed.
There are currently about 400 breeding pairs in the province.
The osprey was declared the Provincial Bird by an Act of the House of Assembly in 1994.
