Flag of Manitoba

What the flag looks like

A red ensign: a red field with the Union Jack in the upper hoist and the provincial shield in the fly, showing a red St George's cross above a bison standing on a rock on green.

What it means

The Union Jack reflects the province's British heritage, and the bison recalls the great herds of the prairie and their importance to Indigenous peoples and the fur trade.

How to remember it

Manitoba is a red ensign with a bison on its shield; Ontario's red ensign has three gold maple leaves instead.

Fun facts

• Manitoba adopted its red ensign in 1966, soon after the Maple Leaf replaced the Canadian Red Ensign as the national flag.
• Manitoba's name is thought to come from Cree or Ojibwe words referring to a spirit in the narrows of Lake Manitoba.

Manitoba at a glance

Type

Province

Joined Confederation

1870

Capital

Winnipeg

Region

Western Canada

Population

1.3 million

Area

647,797 km²

Languages

English, French

Currency

Canadian dollar ($)

Flag adopted

1966

Flags often confused with Manitoba

• Ontario: Manitoba and Ontario are both red ensigns with the Union Jack in the corner and a shield in the fly. Manitoba's shield has a bison standing on a rock; Ontario's has three gold maple leaves.