![[Hudson's Bay Company flag]](../images/c/ca$hudbc.gif)
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by Jack Kowalski
Last modified: 2022-08-12 by rob raeside
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by Jack Kowalski
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Until 1867, the Hudson's Bay Company controlled most of the area of modern
Canada west of Ontario. A flag much used in this territory was the British Red
Ensign (a red flag with the Union Flag on the canton) with the capital letters
H B C in white on the fly: the letters H and B are joined together in a
monogram arrangement. One of these flags is displayed in Christ Church
Cathedral, in Victoria, British Columbia. This flag was probably the prototype
for the Canadian Red Ensign and several provincial flags.
Peter Cawley, 30 May 1995
The 329-year-old department store which sprung out of the HBC has its own
flag, but it's nothing like what was posted, but is instead (you guessed it),
something like a coat of arms on a bed-sheet (nice heraldic coat of arms on a
plain white field - rare to see department stores here having heraldic arms,
but since the store was founded in 1670.
David Kendall, 20 June 1999
A Hudson Bay Company flag measuring
approx. 11 feet 9 inches by 5 feet 2 inches was posted for sale on Ebay. It
features a sewn design, made of what looks to be a strong linen. It was
manufactured by John Leckie Limited out of Toronto. It shows obvious signs of
being well flown, as it was patched in the far right corners, which tore again
at sometime. The flag originated in Winnipeg. There are a couple of
possibilities for flying a flag of this size from this time period. It's
possible that The Bay flew it, as it opened in 1926. It's also worth pointing
out that in 1920 the Hudson Bay Company celebrated its 250 year anniversary and
HBC Red Ensigns were again flown at Upper and Lower Fort Garry.
posting
located by Bill Garrison, 5 February 2015
![[Hudson's Bay Company flag]](../images/c/ca$hudb-b.gif)
image by Lucas Stratton, Manitoba Vexillological Association, 6 July
2022
![[example of Hudson Bay Company white ensign]](../images/c/ca$hbc99.jpg)
image contributed by Dov Gutterman
In the book, Picturesque Canada: the country as it was and is (George M. Grant, Toronto: Belden, circa 1882), there is the following as he describes Warren's Landing (one of the HBC's posts) which is a supply point for Norway House:
Meantime, canoes and "York boats" are constantly arriving from the post, the steamer having been expected. One of the latter, bearing a great white flag with the arms and motto (pro pelle cutem) of the Hudson's Bay Company, brings the factor in charge of the district.Phil Nelson, 30 September 1999
From: Saving An Old Flag, Gus Norwood, http://www.fvhscc.org/1999history/flag.htm
Dov Gutterman, 30 August 2000The flag illustrates English heraldry which flourished in the 14th and 15th centuries. When Charles II granted the Hudson's Bay Company charter to his cousin Prince Rupert and 17 gentlemen in 1670, he asked that whenever the king visited the H.B.C. area, Prince Rupert should receive as a tribute the furs of one fox, two elk and four beavers. These seven animals make up the heraldic design.
Under the shield with its red cross of St. George is the gold-lettered motto "Pro Pelle Cutem" meaning "fair value in exchange for pelts." The H.B.C. began using such a flag in 1767 both on its ships and its forts.
"The flag of the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company" is shown on: Port Cities
The date is given as 19th Century, image courtesy of the National Maritime
Museum.
Jan Mertens, 20 February 2005
