Search for B.C.'s Best Symbol: B.C. flag vs. Ogopogo

For a symbol that is so intertwined with the British Empire, it's ironic that the base design of the British Columbia flag originally contradicted one of the key ideas of the colonial kingdom. 

"Originally, they put the setting sun on top [of the Union Jack], and people hated the idea, because the saying was 'the sun never sets on the British Empire,'" said Dean McGee, a vexillologist that studies flags and maintains the B.C. section of the Flags Of The World website. 

That order of the flag, with the sun at the top, was in the original version of B.C.'s Coat of Arms, created by Arthur Beanlands in 1895. About a decade later the coat of arms was given royal approval, but only after the Union Jack was put on top of the sun. That revised ordering was then repeated when the flag was adopted in 1960. 

"I love the idea that it shows where we are," said McGee. 

"I love the combination of colours — whether you like the Union Jack or not, you've got blue, white, red, yellow in the second half … I think people are kind of fond of the B.C. flag."

Enough people are that it's made it to the quarterfinals of The Search for B.C.'s Best Symbol, our friendly summer competition to find the most iconic thing that represents this province. Today, it's facing off against the mighty and mythical Ogopogo lake creature, known to the Westbank First Nation as n ̓x̌ax̌aitkʷ. 

Which moves on?

But that has caused spirited debate online, with many people arguing whether the most literal and visible symbol of the province is actually the best. 

In some ways, this is the most existential match-up so far in this competition — one thing that is entirely a physical symbol around the entire province, the other a legend with no actual physical properties (as far as we know) residing in one place.

But it's another example of how symbols come in all shapes and sizes, and are imbued with all types of meaning.

Only one of them, however, can join the Orca, Western Red Cedar, and Totem Poles in the Final Four.

Voting is open until 10 p.m. PT tonight.