Of Canada’s three federal territories, Yukon is the smallest and the westernmost. Wild, mountainous and romantic, few people live there, but were word to get out about the Northern Lights, Midnight Sun, the wildlife and beauty, one could suspect a repeat of the Klondike Gold Rush.

In 1968 a flag for Yukon was officially adopted, its design chosen from a territory-wide competition that was part of Canada’s Centennial celebrations the year before. A total of 137 entries were submitted to the contest sponsored by the Whitehorse branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, the winning design submitted by Yukon College graduate, Lynn Lambert.

Her concept was a green, white, and blue tricolor flag with the coat of arms of Yukon at the centre above a wreath of fireweed, the territorial flower. It included stylized mountains inset with gold coins that acknowledged the mineral resources of the Klondike. Wavy lines represented the sea, the patterned circle spoke to the abundance of fur bearing animals, and the red cross was a nod to England. On top of it all standing majestically on a mound of snow is an Alaskan Malamute. Check your pulse if that doesn’t give you goosebumps.