Newfoundland & Labrador @ CanadianMaritimes.com

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		Provincial Flag Population: 530,667 (April 2003) Land Area: 405,720 sq. km Capital City: St. John's Provincial Nicknames: - "The Rock"

Quaerite prime regnum Dei		Provincial Coat of Arms The coat of arms was assigned by the Garter Principal King of armson January 1, 1638, following the granting of the whole of Newfoundland to the Marquis of Hamilton, the Earl of Pembroke, the Earl of Holland,and Sir David Kirke. The existence of this coat of arms was in time forgotten. Uncovered in the 1920s, it was then officially adopted by Newfoundland. - Quaerite prime regnum Dei - "Seek ye first the kingdom of God"

Atlantic Puffin		Provincial Bird The puffin has officially been the provincial bird of Newfoundland and Labrador since 1991. The puffin is also called the sea parrot because of its bright multi-coloured beak. About 95% of all North America's puffins breed around the Newfoundland and Labrador coasts. The largest puffin colony in the western Atlantic (225,000 pairs) can be found at the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, 32km south of St. John's.

Pitcher Plant		Provincial Flower More than 100 years ago, Queen Victoria chose the pitcher plant to be engraved on a newly minted Newfoundland penny. In 1954 the Newfoundland Cabinet designated this plant as the official flower of the province.The pitcher plant gets its nourishment from insects that are trapped and drown in a pool of water at the base of its tubular leaves. These plants, with their wine and green flowers, are found on bogs and marshes around the province.

Black Spruce		Provincial Tree The Black Spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) was proclaimed the Provincial Tree of Newfoundland & Labrador in May of 1991. This tree is widely distributed and is the most common tree in the province. Black Spruce has had a significant social and economic impact on the growth of Newfoundland. It is the favoured tree in the pulp and paper industry and is widely used for lumber, wharf piers, and firewood.

		Provincial Tartan The provincial tartan was developed in 1955 by Sam Wilansky, a clothing store owner on Water Street in St. John's. The tartan is predominantly green with gold, white, brown and red bands of colour. He chose most of the colours to correspond with The Ode to Newfoundland.

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