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Thunder Bay, Ontario (Canada)

Thunder Bay District

image by Peter Orenski, 17 November 2012
based on research and information provided by James Croft and Kevin Harrington
Source: Canadian City Flags, Raven 18

Thunder Bay
Current Flag

See also:

Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay is a city in, and the seat of, Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada. It is the most populous municipality in northwestern Ontario. Located on Lake Superior, the census metropolitan area of Thunder Bay has a population of 121,621, and consists of the city of Thunder Bay, the municipalities of Oliver Paipoonge and Neebing, the townships of Shuniah, Conmee, O'Connor, and Gillies, and the Fort William First Nation.

Current Flag

Text and image(s) from Canadian City Flags, Raven 18 (2011), courtesy of the North American Vexillological Association, which retains copyright. Image(s) by permission of Eugene Ipavec.

Design

The flag of the City of Thunder Bay is a horizontal bicolour of two-thirds golden yellow over one-third blue. Extending along the full base of the golden yellow section is a low mountainous landform in green, reaching to about one-third the height of that section. Behind it is a Canadian maple leaf in red, extending nearly the full height of the flag. All components are edged in white, separating them from each other.
Doreen Braverman, Canadian City Flags, Raven 18, 2011

Symbolism

The overall image depicts a golden yellow sky with a sun (in the form of a maple leaf, the symbol of Canada) rising behind the “Sleeping Giant” mountain, which sits in the blue waters of Lake Superior. Green and gold are Thunder Bay’s official colours. The “Sleeping Giant” has long symbolized Thunder Bay. A rock formation on the Sibley Peninsula across the bay from the city, it resembles a giant lying on its back. According to an Ojibway legend, the giant Nanabijou was turned to stone when the secret of a local silver mine was betrayed to white men. The Ojibway (sometimes known in the U. S. as Chippewa) were the original inhabitants of the area.
Doreen Braverman, Canadian City Flags, Raven 18, 2011

Selection

In 1972 Mayor Saul Laskin conceived of a distinctive flag to promote the city, after it was formed by the amalgamation of the twin cities of Fort William and Port Arthur. A small committee was formed and invited participation in a contest.
Doreen Braverman, Canadian City Flags, Raven 18, 2011

Designer

Cliff Redden, a local citizen, created the winning design in the
Doreen Braverman, Canadian City Flags, Raven 18, 2011