Canadian Tartans (original) (raw)

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At pch.gc.ca is an image of the Maple Leaf and all the provincial and territorial tartans.

It appears to be a direct copy of a handout from the 80's on Canadian national and provincial flags and symbols (there is an update: I don't know if it includes the tartans). On it the Maple Leaf (i.e. Canadian national) tartan is listed as unofficial, as well as Newfoundland, Quebec, and Yukon. Scrolling down, I see that the Yukon tartan is official because it was registered with the Lord Lyon in 1984.

It is possible that Newfoundland (now Newfoundland & Labrador) or Quebec have now adopted a tartan, there is nothing onNewfoundland's web page about a tartan, only the provincial flower (the carnivorous Pitcher Plant), the provincial bird, and the other provincial bird.

The Quebec tartan has red and green in it, taking its colours from the arms. Newfoundland has a lot of green (it predates the provincial flag) and Yukon has almost a rainbow of colours. The Maple Leaf Tartan uses red, green, brown, and gold (the possible colours of actual maple leaves). The other setts (all the official ones) seem to have at least some inspiration from the colours of the provincial flags.

Most of the setts were adopted in the 60's, around the same time as the provincial flags (the time of the Maple Leaf flag and the 1967 Centennial).
Dean McGee, 16 March 2006

When you accesshourseoftartan.co.uk and type in Newfoundland and Quebec and two tartans appear. The first, registered by the Lord Lyons and the second, registered, but no explanation.
John Udics, 16 March 2006