MANITOBA

Manitoba lies between Alberta and Ontario and it also touches the Hudson Bay.

Above Manitoba is Canada's newest territory, Nunavut. Below it lies the state, North Dakoda.

The population of Manitoba is 1 208 000 (2008).

The capital city is Winnipeg.

Manitoba is called the "Keystone Province" because it is in the center of Eastern and Western Canada.

Click here to go a clear map of Manitoba.

The flag for Manitoba has the Union Jack in the corner and the Manitoba shield on the right. At the top of the shield is the Cross of St. George of England and a buffalo. The buffalo was an important animal to the native people of Manitoba and to the early settlers. The Cross of St. George was the symbol of the Hudson's Bay company which played a big part in Manitoba's history.

Manitoba's provincial flower is the Pairie Crocus. It blooms when the snow melts and is also called the Pasque Flower because it blooms at Easter.

To learn more about the Prairie Crocus click here.

The bird symbol for Manitoba is the Great Gray Owl.

To learn more about Great Gray Owls please click here.

Photo courtesy of Don Roberson.

Manitoba's provincial tree is the White Spruce. This tree was used by the native people of Manitoba to help make snowshoes and bows and the bark was used for cooking pots and bowls.

To learn more about the White Spruce please click here.

At the top of Manitoba's coat of arms is Canada's national symbol, the beaver. This also stands for the riches of Manitoba's natural resources and the importance of the fur trade in Manitoba history. The beaver holds the crocus which is the flower symbol.

The gold helmet is a symbol of Manitoba as part of Canada. The Beaver's crown shows that Britain and the Queen are also part Manitoba.

The Unicorn is also part of the British stands for the many Scottish settlers who stayed in Manitoba.

The horse was vital to the native people of Manitoba.

At the bottom are water, grain fields and forests, all part of Manitoba's landscape.

Each of the colours in Manitoba's tartan stands for something different about Manitoba:

Dark red = The Red River Settlement and fur trade posts.
Green = the natural resources
Blue = Thomas Douglas V., Earl of Selkirk and founder of the Red River Settlement.
The crossing blue lines = forks of the Red River and Assiniboine River.
Dark green lines = men and women who live in Manitoba.
Gold lines = The fields of grain and other crops.