- Canadian pale
In
vexillology andheraldry , a Canadian pale is a centre band of a vertical tribandflag (a pale in heraldry) that covers half the length of a flag, rather than a third in most triband designs. This allows more space to display a central image (common charge). The name was suggested by SirGeorge Stanley , and first used byElizabeth II of Canada proclaiming the new Canadian flag on28 January ,1965 . [http://www.middlesex-heraldry.org.uk/publications/seaxe/Seaxe52-200609.pdf] Properly, the term should only apply to Canadian flags, though in general use the term is also used to describe non-Canadian flags which have similar proportions. [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/vxt-dv-c.html#canadianpale "Flags of the World" website definition] ]The Canadian pale is a popular feature of sub-national and municipal flags from Canada developed after 1965. A few examples can be found in the flag of the
Northwest Territories , and the cities ofEdmonton, Alberta ;Cornwall, Ontario andBurlington, Ontario .Looser description
The classic Canadian pale is a square central panel occupying half of a flag with 1:2 proportions. However, vexillological usage applies it to any central band that is half the width of the flag, even if this renders it non-square. Though technically incorrect, the term Canadian pale is also used for flags which do not originate in Canada. The 3:5
proposed flag of Taiwan and the 7:11flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are both described as having a Canadian pale.The term is sometimes used in an even looser sense to refer to any flag with a larger central panel, irrespective of whether or not it covers half the flag. By this looser description, the
flag of Norfolk Island (stripes in a ratio of 7:9:7) and theflag of Iowa (ratio legally undefined, but usually the central stripe is less than twice that of the outer stripes) are sometimes considered to have a Canadian pale.By analogy, any flag which has a central "horizontal" stripe that is half the height of the flag is sometimes said to have a
Spanish fess .Flag gallery
See also
*
Gallery of triband flags
*Pale (heraldry)
*Spanish fess References
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