the Northwest Territories

The flag of the Northwest Territories was adopted in 1969 after a Canada-wide design contest won by Robert Bessant of Margaret, Manitoba, and was formally established by ordinance on 18 February 1971. Its blue panels symbolize the territory’s abundant lakes, rivers, and other waters, while the broad white center represents northern ice and snow. The centered shield reflects the territorial coat of arms: the upper white field and wavy blue line represent the Arctic Ocean and the Northwest Passage, the diagonal division marks the tree line, the green and red sections represent forest and tundra, the gold billets signify mineral wealth, and the white fox refers to the historic fur trade.