Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Civic Brief • Canada Notes

Flag of Alberta

The flag of Alberta is the official provincial flag of Alberta, Canada.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

The flag of Alberta is the official provincial flag, adopted in 1968. It features the provincial coat of arms centred on an ultramarine blue field.

What it is

The flag uses the shield from Alberta’s coat of arms on a 1:2 ultramarine blue field. The shield includes elements of the province’s landscape — mountains, prairie, and wheat fields — and was officially adopted as the provincial flag on June 1, 1968.

Why it matters

The flag is one of Alberta’s core official symbols. It is displayed in government and ceremonial settings as a mark of provincial identity. The shield imagery connects directly to Alberta’s geography and heritage.

Key details

The flag’s proportions are 1:2. Alberta’s provincial colours — blue and gold — were adopted later in 1984 and are commonly called Alberta blue and Alberta gold. The flag is distinct from the national Flag of Canada, which uses a red maple leaf design.

In short

  • Adopted June 1, 1968
  • Shield from coat of arms on blue background
  • Proportions 1:2
  • Official colours: blue and gold (adopted 1984)
Canadian angle

The flag is one of Canada’s provincial symbols and is relevant to Canadian civic identity, government display practices, and provincial heritage.

Quick questions

What does the Alberta flag mean?
The flag symbolizes Alberta’s identity through the provincial coat of arms, which represents the province’s landscape and heritage, including mountains, prairie, and wheat fields.
What is the history of the Alberta flag?
A banner version was approved in January 1967, and the legislature adopted the design as Alberta’s official flag on June 1, 1968.
What are the Alberta flag colors?
The flag uses an ultramarine blue field with the coat of arms in its centre. Alberta’s official provincial colours are blue and gold, adopted in 1984.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Alberta
    Supports: Adoption date, proportions, colour information, and basic design description.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Alberta
    Supports: Historical note that a banner version was approved in 1967 and made official in 1968.
  3. Rutherford House Public History Society — https://rutherfordhousephs.ca/company-news/alberta-and-saskatchewan/
    Supports: Proportions, adoption timeline, and description of the flag’s relation to the British blue ensign.