We pack a lot into the pages of every issue of Kayak, but there’s always more great stuff we just can’t fit in. So join Teeka and Beau, our otter mascots, to find out more about the theme of each issue, or just pick up some random bits of Canadian history.

Fly the flag!

Each Canadian province and territory has its own flag with symbols that make it special. Click on the flag or the text link and you can read more about provincial and territorial symbols on the Canadian Heritage website!

The green on the flag of the Yukon stands for its forests, white for snow and blue for its rivers and lakes. The territory’s shield shows a husky standing on snow, wavy lines symbolizing the Yukon River, red triangles for the mountains containing circles representing gold, and a symbol of the fur trade over top of the cross of St. George.

The flag of the Northwest Territories features the region’s crest, which shows white and blue sections representing the Arctic Ocean and the Northwest Passage on top with red for tundra and green for forest below. The gold bars and fox symbolize the territories’ resources.

Nunavut’s shows an inuksuk to represent the Inuit people; it is red to represent Canada. There is a yellow section for the wealth of the land, and a blue star to symbolize the North Star as well as the guiding wisdom of elders.

The wavy lines on British Columbia’s flag represent the province’s location between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, while the Union flag symbolizes B.C.’s ties to Great Britain.

Alberta’s flag features the provincial shield, which shows the cross of St. George and the province’s mountains, hills, prairie and wheat fields.

The green on Saskatchewan’s flag represents the forests in the north, while the gold represents the grain fields of the south. The flower is the western red lily; the shield shows the lion of England and three sheaves of wheat.

The Union flag in the upper left of Manitoba’s flag and the cross of St. George represent the province’s ties to Great Britain, while the bison symbolizes the importance of the animal to First Nations and European settlers.

Ontario’s flag includes the Union flag in the upper left, the cross of St. George and three golden maple leaves.

Quebec’s flag shows four fleurs-de-lis, the flower of France, on a blue background divided by the white cross of French royalty.

The ship on New Brunswick’s flag represents the province’s shipbuilding and sailing history, while the lion symbolizes the relationship with Great Britain.

Nova Scotia’s flag features Scotland’s blue cross of St. Andrew with the province’s shield of arms in the centre.

The large oak tree and the lion on Prince Edward Island’s flag both symbolize England, while the three smaller oak trees represent the province’s three counties.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s flag makes you think of the Union flag. Its colours are all symbolic: blue for the sea, white for snow and ice, red for human effort and gold for confidence. The triangles represent the island and mainland, while the arrow points to the future.