Victoria, British Columbia (Canada)

City of Victoria flag is the city logo, as seen in the upper right hand corner of: http://www.city.victoria.bc.ca/common/index.shtml

The flag is about 2:3 and is blue on white, unlike the website logo. The flag includes the text.
David Fowler, 12 July 2004

The photo of the Victoria flag shows that the letterhead flag described above is in use. The last time I was there (about 3 years ago) I was able to spot both the heraldic flag and the letterhead flag.
Dean McGee, 15 September 2006

Both flags are still in use in Victoria as of Sunday. From what I was able to see on the course of the Canada Day weekend, the heraldic flag was used more than the logo flag. I saw the heraldic flag at three locations; one at city hall, one at the Victoria Convention Centre and possibly one at a police-like building. The logo flag, on the other hand, I only found once. I found this logo flag at an information booth across the street from The Empress Hotel; I bet the flag was in the same spot as the one Peter Ansoff took a photo of in 2006. As for the ratio, I think it was 1x2, just like the Canadian and BC flags that were next to it. I did not see this flag anywhere else yet this logo was used a lot in different city events or posters in my hostel.
Zachary Harden, 5 July 2011

The City of Victoria (80,032 inhabitants in 2011; 1,947 ha), located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, is the capital of British Columbia.

Quoting the municipal website:
The City was founded by the Hudson's Bay Company on March 14, 1843, as a trading post and fort at the location the First Nations called "Camosack" meaning "Rush of Water." Anticipating that under the Oregon Treaty, then being drawn up, the 49th parallel would be chosen as the International Boundary Line, the Hudson's Bay Company moved its fort from Vancouver on the Columbia River to the southern end of Vancouver Island. Thereafter, for a short time, it was known locally as "Fort Albert," but by resolution passed by the Council of the Northern Department of the Company meeting at Fort Garry on June 10, 1843, it was officially named "Fort Victoria" after the great British Queen. With the Fraser Valley gold rush in 1858, Victoria grew rapidly as the main port of entry to the Colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia. When the colonies combined, the City became the colonial capital and was established as the provincial capital when British Columbia joined the Canadian Confederation in 1871.

The name "Victoria" was adopted when the townsite was laid out in 1852. Victoria was incorporated as a City on August 2, 1862.[...]
http://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/community/about/history.html - Municipal website

The heraldic flag can be seen on a photo of the city hall.
http://vibrantvictoria.ca/local-news/regional-mayors-host-2011-city-hall-levees

The arms of Victoria were originally recorded in the records of the College of Arms, London, England, 10 May 1962. They were confirmed by Letters Patent issued on 20 My 2005 and registered in the Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges, vol. IV, p. 492, as announced on 29 October 2005 in the Canada Gazette, vol. 139, p. 3450.

Arms
Azure on a pile argent another gules charged with the Royal Crown proper;
Crest
Descending upon a mural crown or a dove wings expanded in the beak a sprig of olive proper, the whole ensigned of an eye within a triangle the base eradicated downwards or;
Supporters
On either side an angel proper vested argent winged or supporting by the interior hand a branch of laurel vert the whole upon a compartment of clouds proper the base environed of a riband azure and argent;
Motto
Semper Liber.
http://archive.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=502 - Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges

The arms are explained on the municipal website as follows.

The centre of the design is a blue shield with a wedge-shaped section of white placed upon it, the point of the wedge towards the base. Upon this white wedge or "pile" as it is termed in heraldry, is placed another one slightly smaller, in scarlet. The overall effect is a white V separating the two colour areas of blue and red, thus creating a cypher for the name Victoria. Starting from the point in base and radiating upward and outward this white V is also suggestive of the growth of the City. The scarlet wedge-shaped upper section may be said to represent the peninsula where the City of Victoria is located jutting out into the blue sea, the white V suggesting the surfy coast line. The "Tudor" Crown displayed on the scarlet area pays honour to and commemorates Queen Victoria the Good, after whom the City was named. The shield is flanked by emblematic Angel figures as on the City's Seal representing the twin sisters of Colonization on the left and Civilization on the right. Each supports with the inner hand a branch of laurel as a symbol of honour and form of tribute to those with municipal public service to their credit.

The All-seeing Eye above is the emblem of the Trinity and suggestive of our constant dependence for the blessings of life upon the bounty of the Deity; the dove with the olive branch symbolizes hope and peace; and the gold Mural Crown is a symbol of municipal authority. These three together form the Crest. The mantling flowing from the top of the helmet indicates the municipal colours, Gold and Scarlet (the Royal Colours, another reference to Queen Victoria).

The compartment upon which the shield and supporters rest is of Clouds as on the Seal, while the light blue and white wavy bands along the front edge of the Clouds represent Water and indicate Victoria's insular position.

The City's motto, "Semper Liber" -- Always Free -- is borne on a scroll at the base of the composition and is suggestive of the Free Port system in Victoria's experience and civil institutions.
http://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/departments/legislative-services/archives/faqs.html
Ivan Sache, 12 August 2012

Logo Flag

image by Zachary Harden, 6 July 2011

The logo flag shown in a 3 x 5 ratio.
Zachary Harden, 6 July 2011

Police Department

image by Zachary Harden and Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 6 July 2011, 14 May 2015

The badge of the VPD and its formal colour are here at the GG website: http://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=2052. However, in the chief constable’s office is a more logo-like flag, with the service badge over “Victoria Police” in white on a navy blue field: https://vicpd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/IMG_1066.jpg
http://jibcisready.jibc.ca/files/2014/02/2014_VicPDAward-Allen_v2-650x300sm.jpg

Logo: https://yt3.ggpht.com/-74RhMn3bJ_Y/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAAA/ceGyQ06NzAU/s900-c-k-no/photo.jpg
Dave Fowler, 16 March 2015

This standard is not used on a daily basis. I would compare it to the Colours of a military regiment. I personally have never seen it in use, so I cannot confirm when it would be carried. The flag that is flown at Police Headquarters in Caledonia Street on a usual basis is the dark blue flag bearing the departmental arms.
Michael Halleran, 14 May 2015

The graphic above is the Victoria Police Department standard, as depicted on the Public Register of Arms website. The graphic on the website also has a red and white fringe, but I'm not a good enough artist to be able to replicate it. If anyone else can, please feel free to modify my gif to reflect it. Randy Young, 16 March 2015

image by Randy Young, 16 March 2015

This second graphic of the other Victoria Police Department flag that Dave found showing the Department's coat of arms and name on a dark blue field. I wonder if one is for primarily ceremonial use while the other is to represent the Department in an everyday manner?
Randy Young, 16 March 2015