OFFICIAL TARTAN PATTERN

Buried in the Edinburgh office of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the list of official tartans contains many names you would expect: Robertson, Mackay, Donald, McCarthy. It also includes one surprise: British Columbia.

Designed by Victoria resident Earl K. Ward in 1967 for Canada's centential, B.C.’s tartan reflects the province’s ties to Scotland.

New Caledonia (“New Scotland”) was the name explorer Simon Fraser gave in 1806 to a part of the territory that later became British Columbia.

The tartan’s colours incorporate elements from other B.C. symbols — white for the Pacific dogwood, green for the forests, blue for the Pacific Ocean, red for the maple leaf and gold to symbolize the sun and the crown in the provincial flag.

While Victoria has always projected an affinity with Britain, its Scottish connection is keenly celebrated by locals.

“Just look at all the street names that are Scottish,” said Alex Reid, past president of the St. Andrew’s and Caledonia Society. Streets such as Caledonia, Yates and Mitchell all share a Scottish heritage.

The society, which helps organize the Victoria Highland Games and Tartan Days, celebrates Victoria’s ties to Scotland.

“It’s interesting to see how great the impact Scots had on building Canada, and I think it’s a great symbol to recognize that,” he said.

The Cary Castle Mews tea room on the grounds of Government House is one of two locations — the other being the legislature gift shop — that sells the B.C. tartan.

The tea room, which opened in 2012, sells about 48 tartan shawls and scarves a year, said Jerymy Brownridge, the director of operations. The shawls have become a popular item at the store for both tourists and residents who want a piece of B.C. history, he said.

(Adopted: 1974)