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THE QUEEN OF CANADA GOVERNMENT HOUSES OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE
The North
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YUKON
The Legislative Building of the Yukon
Yukon, is from the Locheux native word "Yuk-un-ah" which means "great river". It refers to the Yukon River which flows across the Yukon territory into Alaska.
- Capital: Whitehorse
- Flower: Epilobium angustifolium or Fireweed
- Date of entry into Confederation: June 13, 1898
- Total Area: 482, 515 kmē
Epilobium angustifolium, provincial floral emblem
The Yukon Coat of Arms is a red, blue, gold and white shield surmounted by a malamute (or husky) standing on a mound of snow.
Wavy vertical white and blue stripes represent the Yukon River and the gold-bearing creeks of the Klondike. Red spire-like forms represent the territory's mountains and the gold circles within symbolize mineral resources. At the top of the shield is a cross of St. George in recognition of the early English explorers and a "roundel in vair" as a symbol of the fur trade.
The Yukon's Coat of Arms was commissioned by the federal Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and designed by well-known heraldry expert Alan Beddoes in the early 1950s. It was approved officially by Queen Elizabeth II in February 1956.
The Yukon flag is the product of a territory-wide design competition sponsored by the Whitehorse branch of the Royal Canadian Legion as part of Canada's 1967 centennial year celebrations. The design was officially accepted as the territorial flag in 1968.
The Yukon flag consists of three vertical panels: a central panel of white flanked by a green panel on the inner edge and a blue panel on the outer edge. The Yukon Coat of Arms appears on the central panel framed by two stems of fireweed, the territory's floral emblem. The blue represents the Yukon's rivers and lakes, the green symbolizes the forests and white signifies snow.
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
November 17, 1993 marked the official opening of the first permanent home of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly. In a natural setting on the shore of Frame Lake, the Legislative Assembly building is a short walk from the center of Yellowknife.
The coat of arms consists of two gold narwhals guarding a compass rose, symbolic of the magnetic North Pole. The white upper third of the crest represents the polar ice pack and is crossed by a wavy blue line symbolizing the Northwest Passage. The diagonal line separating the red and green segments of the lower portion of the shield reflects the treeline. The green symbolizes the forested areas south of the treeline, while the red represents the tundra to the north. Minerals and fur, the important bases of the northern wealth, are represented by gold billets in the green portion and the mask of the white fox in the red.
Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, Yellowknife
Variations of the name Northwest Territories have been used to describe lands in the west and north of what is now Canada. Originally the term was applied to all lands north and west of Lake Superior. From 1870 to 1905, North-West Territories was used for the region formed from the union of Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory. Since then, large parts of the area have been removed to form Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, the Yukon and Nunavut. 
Dryas integrifolia, provincial floral emblem
The Coat of Arms (or Armorial Bearings) of the NWT was approved by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on February 7, 1957.
The Flag was adopted by the Council of the Northwest Territories in January 1969. The design incorporates the territorial shield on a white centre section with blue sections on each end. The blue panels represent the NWT lakes and waters. The white centre panel, equal in width to the two blue panels combined, symbolizes the ice and snow of the North. The design was the result of a nation-wide competition submitted to the flag committee of the territorial Council. Robert Bessant of Margaret, Manitoba designed the winning entry.
NUNAVUT
"Nunavut, our strength"
This building was completed in 1999 and is the newest government seat in all of Canada.
In the base of the shield is an inuksuk. These stone monuments guide people on the land, and also mark sacred and other special places. The qulliq, an Inuit stone lamp, represents light and the warmth of family and the community.
Above this, the arc of five gold circles refers to the life giving properties of the sun arching above and below the horizon -- the sun doesn't set during the summer months, which is a unique part of the Nunavut year.
The star is the Niqirtsituk, the North Star -- the traditional guide for navigation. This star forever remains unchanged -- just like the leadership of the elders in the community.
In the crest, the iglu represents the traditional life of the people and the means of survival. It also symbolizes the assembled members of the Legislature meeting together for the good of Nunavut. The Royal Crown symbolizes public government for all the people of Nunavut and the equivalent status of Nunavut with other territories and provinces in Canadian Confederation.
The supporters, a tuktu (caribou) and qilalugaq tugaalik (narwhal), are land and sea animals that are part of the rich natural heritage of Nunavut and provide sustenance for people.
The compartment at the base is composed of land and sea, and features three important species of Arctic wild flowers.
The motto, in Inuktitut means "NUNAVUT OUR STRENGTH".
The inuksuk - a stone monument - guides people on the land. Inuksuks also mark sacred and other special places.
The star is the Niqirtsituk, the North Star -- the traditional guide for navigation. This star forever remains unchanged -- just like the leadership of the elders in the community.
Nunavut Sanginivut
Nunavut Legislative Building, Iqaluit
Nunuvat, named from the Inuktitut word meaning "Our Land".
Saxifraga oppositifolia, provincial floral emblem
The dominant colours, blue and gold, symbolize the riches of the land, sea and sky.
The dominant colours, blue and gold, symbolize the riches of the land, sea and sky. Red is a reference to Canada.
