[2] It was the first provincial flag officially adopted in Canada and was originally shown on January 21, 1948, at the Parliament Building in Quebec City, during the administration of Maurice Duplessis.

[8][9][10][11] The banner has three gold fleurs-de-lis on a dark blue field (arranged two and one), and it was also present on the French naval flag.

The direct predecessor of the modern Fleurdelisé was created by Elphège Filiatrault, a parish priest in Saint-Jude, Quebec.

[7] Called the Carillon [fr], it resembles the modern flag except that the fleurs-de-lis are located at the corners, pointing inward.

Another version, with the Sacred Heart in the centre, also appeared, but it was left behind in the push for a new provincial flag after World War II.

In addition, in 1938, at the opening of a mining school in Val-d'Or, the flag used to represent the Quebec government was a banner of arms.

This was done at the behest of public servant Burroughs Pelletier,[17] who had been told that the Ministry wanted a symbol but were unsure as to what should be used.

In 1947, an independent member of the Legislative Assembly, René Chaloult, demanded a new provincial flag to displace the unpopular (amongst some segment of the population of Quebec) Union Jack and Canadian Red Ensign.

[19] Likewise, the flag is highly popular in Quebec, and it is often seen displayed at many private residences and commercial buildings.