The Montreal flag has 5 aspects by which it is defined: the red cross and a symbol in each of the 4 quadrants. The four floral emblems represent the four main European ethnic groups that helped to found the city.
The prominent red cross is a heraldic cross which represents the Christian motives and principles which governed the founders of the city. The symbol in the top left quadrant is a fleur-de-lis which represents the original settlers of the city - the French. The symbol in the top right quadrant is a rose which represents the English. The symbol in the bottom left quadrant is a thistle which represents the Scottish. The symbol in the bottom right quadrant is a shamrock which represents the Irish.
Fun Facts
- The flag of Montreal was first raised in 1939
- A Canadian beaver used to represent the French but was replaced by the fleur-de-lis
- The city also has a logo which is made of 4 petals where the letters 'V' and 'M' can be detected. These are the initials for the city "Ville de Montreal"
