Association des Chouinard d'Amérique du Nord (Quebec)

I saw this flag in the Summer of 1998 in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli QC, as well as in the Summer of 1999, in Saint-Hilarion QC. A Canadian pale of blue, white and red (probably a reference to France), with the shield and the word CHOUINARD below it in blue characters on the white square. Three white fleur de lys on the blue stripe (probably for Quebec) and three white maple leaves on the red stripe (probably for Canada). The symbolism of the coat of arms is as follows, according to the family website (translated): "Gules (red) is for the generous love of the North American Chouinard; the golden bread is for the Chouinard name, signifying oven baked white bread*; the gold chevron is for the pioneers and wood artisans; the gold plough is for the numerous farmers; the golden book, white plume and black inkwell are for the teachers and professionals of all categories."

*More precisely, "chouine" or "choine" is an old word for 'white bread' and thus Chouinard would be 'someone who eats or likes to eat white bread'.
Luc Baronian, 18 May 2005