The flag of Nova Scotia consists of a blue saltire on a white field defaced with the royal arms of Scotland.

[2][3] Four years later, the colony was granted its own coat of arms by Charles I,[4] with the emblem first recorded at the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh on May 28, 1625.

This continued until 1713, when the Peace of Utrecht saw France permanently relinquish mainland Nova Scotia to the United Kingdom.

[2][3] The flag of Nova Scotia was reportedly first flown on its merchant vessels during the Age of Sail in the 19th century,[5][7] but vexillologist Whitney Smith opines that these ambiguous accounts are doubtful.

[2][3] There was vociferous sentiment against Confederation in some parts of Nova Scotia, with a few of its residents flying flags at half-mast on July 1, 1867.

[4] The blazon for the banner of arms – as outlined in the letters patent registering it with the Canadian Heraldic Authority on July 20, 2007 – reads, "Argent a saltire Azure, overall on an escutcheon Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules".

According to historians Ian McKay and Robin Bates, the Cross of Saint Andrew alludes to divine providence and its part in enabling Scottish immigrants to be "the first among the Nova Scotians".

[6][24] The colours of Saint Andrew's Cross were reversed on the province's flag in order to bring about a more distinct contrast with the royal arms, as stated by Whitney Smith.

[27] Even though Nova Scotia entered into Confederation on the same date as those three provinces (July 1, 1867), it is placed third among the group since its size of population at the time was the third-largest.