10/5/21, 4:01 PM National symbols of Canada - Wikipedia

National symbols of Canada

National symbols of Canada are the symbols that are used in Canada and abroad to represent the
country and its people. Over the course of centuries a multitude of symbols and material items have
arisen as uniquely Canadian or possessing uniquely Canadian characteristics. These symbols and
items represent the culture of Canada—protectionism of that culture, identity, values, nationalism,
and the heritage of its inhabitants.[1]

Themes and symbols of nature, pioneers, trappers, and traders played an important part in the early
development of Canadian symbolism.[2] Modern symbols emphasize the country's geography, cold
climate, lifestyles and the Canadianization of traditional European and indigenous symbols.[3]

A 2013 Statistics Canada survey found that more than 90% of Canadians believed that the national
flag and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms were the top symbols of Canadian identity.
Next highest were the national anthem (O Canada), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and ice
hockey.[4] A similar poll by Ipsos Reid in 2008 indicated that the maple leaf was the primary item that
defines Canada. Followed by ice hockey, the national flag, the beaver, the Canadarm, Canada Day and
Canadian Forces peacekeeping.[5]

Contents
Predominant symbols
Official and de facto symbols
See also
References
External links

Predominant symbols
Canada’s most well known symbol the maple leaf was first used by French colonists in the 1700s.
Since the 1850s under British rule, the maple leaf has been used on military uniforms and
subsequently engraved on the headstones of individuals who have served in the Canadian Armed
Forces.[7] The maple leaf is prominently depicted on the countries current and previous flags, and on
the coat of arms (or royal arms). The maple leaf has also been seen on the penny before the penny
officially stopped circulation in 2013. Canada's official tartan known as the "Maple leaf tartan" four
colours reflect the colours of the maple leaf as it changes through the seasons—green in the spring,
gold in the early autumn, red at the first frost, and brown after falling.[8]

Other prominent symbols include the national motto "A Mari Usque Ad Mare" (From Sea to Sea),[9]
the sports of hockey and lacrosse, the beaver, Canada Goose, Canadian horse, the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police, the Canadian Rockies, the Canadian parliamentary complex, the Canadarm,[10] and
more recently the Canadianization of totem poles and Inuksuks.[11] With material items such as
Canadian beer, maple syrup, tuques, canoes, nanaimo bars, butter tarts and the Quebec dish of
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The mother beaver on the
Canadian parliament's
Peace Tower.[6] The five
flowers on the shield
surrounded by maple leafs
each represent an ethnicity
—Tudor rose: English;
Fleur de lis: French; thistle:
Scottish; shamrock: Irish;
and leek: Welsh.
The following is a list of official and "De facto" symbols as recognized by the government of
Canada.[17]
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National symbols of Canada - Wikipedia
poutine being defined as uniquely Canadian.[11][12] A six pointed
hexagonal snowflake used as the insignia for the Order of Canada (a
national honour system) has come to symbolize Canadians northern
heritage and diversity.[13] The country's institutions of health care,
military peacekeeping, the national park system and the Canadian
Charter of Rights and Freedoms are seen as uniquely Canadian by its
citizens.[14][15]
The Crown displaying traditional cross pattées and fleurs-de-lis
symbolizes the Canadian monarchy,[16] and appears on the coat of arms
(used by parliamentarians and government ministries), the flag of the
Governor General,[16] the coats of arms of many provinces and
territories; the badges of several federal departments, the Canadian
Armed Forces and Royal Military College of Canada, many regiments,
and other police forces; on buildings, as well as some highway signs and
licence plates. Also, the Queen's image appears in Canadian government
buildings, military installations and schools; and on Canadian stamps,
$20 bank notes, and all coins.
Official and de facto symbols
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Symbol Image Notes

Official symbol as
National flag[17] of February 15,
1965[17]

Royal symbol -
adopted and
proclaimed by
Queen Elizabeth II
Royal standard[16] in 1962 for her use
in her capacity as
Queen of
Canada.[18]

Royal symbol
adopted 1981 -
Viceregal standard current version
2005[19]

Royal symbol since

Royal cypher[16]
1952[20]

Official symbol as
Royal arms[17][21] of November 21,
1921[17]

Most recent rendition 1994, still in official use 1957

rendition displayed here

Great Seal[17] De facto symbol

since 1867 -
(current version
November 14,
1955).[17]

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Official since July
National anthem[17] 1, 1980 (song
dates to 1880)[17]

"O Canada"

0:00 MENU

De facto Royal
Royal anthem[16] anthem that dates
to 1745[22]

"God Save the Queen"

Officially adopted
Motto[17] November 21,
A Mari Usque Ad Mare
1921[17]
(From sea to sea)

Red

#ff0000
Official symbol as
of November 21,
National colours[17] 1921 by order of
King George V[17]

White

#FFFFFF

National tree[17] Official symbol

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since 1996[17]

Maple

Additional national De facto symbol

symbol[17] since 1700s[17]

Maple leaf

Official symbol
since 1975[17]

Beaver
National animals[17]

Official symbol
since 2002[17]

Canadian horse

National sport[17][23] Officially adopted

on May 12,
1994[17]

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Lacrosse (summer)

Officially adopted
on May 12,
1994[17]

Ice hockey (winter)

Officially adopted
National tartan[17] on March 9,
2011[17]

Maple Leaf Tartan

Royal Canadian Mounted De facto symbol

Police[17] since 1920[17]

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer

Parliament Hill[17] De facto symbol

built between
1859–1927[17]

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Parliament Hill

See also
Anthems and nationalistic songs of Canada  Canada portal
Events of National Historic Significance
Great Canadian Flag Debate
List of Canadian awards
List of Canadian flags YT
National Historic Sites of Canada NT NU
Orders, decorations, and medals of Canada
BC AB NL
Orders, decorations, and medals of the Canadian provinces SK MB QC
ON PE
Persons of National Historic Significance NBNS
Regional tartans of Canada

Symbols by provinces and

territories

References
1. Michael Dawson; Donald A. Wright; Catherine Anne Gidney (2018). Symbols of Canada. Between
the Lines. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-77113-371-5.
2. "Canada in the Making: Pioneers and Immigrants" (http://www.canadiana.org/citm/themes/pioneer
s/pioneers7_e.html). The History Channel. August 25, 2005. Retrieved November 30, 2006.
3. Cormier, Jeffrey. (2004). The Canadianization Movement: Emergence, Survival, and Success (htt
ps://www.researchgate.net/publication/303410887_The_Canadianization_Movement_Emergence
_Survival_and_Success). 10.3138/9781442680616.
4. "The Daily — Canadian identity, 2013" (http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/151001/dq151001
a-eng.htm). www.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2015-10-01.Canadian Identity, 2013 - By Maire Sinha
(https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-652-x/89-652-x2015005-eng.htm#a1)
5. Defining Canada: A Nation Chooses The 101 Things That Best Define Their Country
"Unprecedented, Definitive National Survey Identifies Top People, Places, Events,
Accomplishments and Symbols that Define Canada. As Chosen By Canadian. (https://www.ipsos.
com/en-ca/defining-canada-nation-chooses-101-things-best-define-their-country) Ipsos Reid on
behalf of the Dominion Institute and the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada,
2008. PDF version (https://www.historicacanada.ca/sites/default/files/PDF/polls/canada101_part3
_en.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwib6_aKvKzwAhULVs0KHbE5Dp4QFjAOegQIChAC&usg=AOvVaw10S6ht
OsK16q1FqwzZUksH)

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6. Monaghan, David (2013). "The mother beaver – Collection Profiles" (http://www.parl.gc.ca/about/h

ouse/collections/collection_profiles/CP_mother_beaver-e.htm). The House of Commons Heritage.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20151222075619/http://www.parl.gc.ca/about/house/collecti
ons/collection_profiles/CP_mother_beaver-e.htm) from the original on December 22, 2015.
Retrieved December 12, 2015.
7. Michael Dawson; Donald A. Wright; Catherine Anne Gidney (15 October 2018). Symbols of
Canada (https://books.google.com/books?id=dnoOuAEACAAJ). Between the Lines. ISBN 978-1-
77113-371-5.
8. "Maple Leaf Tartan becomes official symbol" (https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/95107
7--maple-lead-tartan-becomes-official-symbol). Toronto Star. Toronto. March 9, 2011.
9. Reingard M. Nischik (2008). History of Literature in Canada: English-Canadian and French-
Canadian (https://books.google.com/books?id=VYgTaGwa4nsC&pg=PA113). Camden House.
pp. 113–114. ISBN 978-1-57113-359-5.
10. Canadian Heritage (2002). Symbols of Canada (http://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.693005/public
ation.html). Canadian Government Publishing. ISBN 978-0-660-18615-3.
11. Sociology in Action, Canadian Edition, 2nd ed (https://books.google.com/books?id=R0hwCgAAQ
BAJ&pg=PT92). Nelson Education-McGraw-Hill Education. p. 92. ISBN 978-0-17-672841-0.
12. Hutchins, Donna; Hutchins, Nigel (2006). The Maple Leaf Forever: A Celebration of Canadian
Symbols. Erin: The Boston Mills Press. p. iix intro. ISBN 978-1-55046-474-0.
13. "Canadian Honours > Order of Canada > Levels and Insignia" (https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/can
adian-honours/order-canada/levels-and-insignia#:~:text=The%20insignia%20of%20the%20Order,
surmounted%20by%20the%20Royal%20Crown.). The Governor General of Canada. 2002.
14. The Environics Institute (2010). "Focus Canada (Final Report)" (https://web.archive.org/web/2016
0204231952/http://www.queensu.ca/cora/_files/fc2010report.pdf) (PDF). Queen's University. p. 4
(PDF page 8). Archived from the original (http://www.queensu.ca/cora/_files/fc2010report.pdf)
(PDF) on February 4, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
15. Nanos Research (October 2016). "Exploring Canadian values" (https://web.archive.org/web/2017
0405113447/http://nanosresearch.com/sites/default/files/POLNAT-S15-T705.pdf) (PDF). Archived
from the original (http://www.nanosresearch.com/sites/default/files/POLNAT-S15-T705.pdf) (PDF)
on April 5, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
16. "The Crown in Canada" (http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/symbl/101/102-eng.cfm).
Department of Canadian Heritage. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20110827092532/http://
www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/symbl/101/102-eng.cfm) from the original on 2011-08-27.
Retrieved 2011-07-27.
17. Canadian Heritage (2002). Symbols of Canada (https://www.canada.ca/en/services/culture/canadi
an-identity-society/anthems-symbols/symbols.html). Canadian Government Publishing. ISBN 978-
0-660-18615-3. Unofficial symbols of Canada (https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/servic
es/unofficial-symbols-canada.html), Official symbols of Canada (https://www.canada.ca/en/canadi
an-heritage/services/official-symbols-canada.html), Royal symbols and titles (https://www.canada.
ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/royal-symbols-titles.html)
18. Heritage, Canadian (11 August 2017). "Canadian flags of the Royal Family" (https://www.canada.c
a/en/canadian-heritage/services/royal-symbols-titles/canadian-flags-royal-family.html#a1). aem.
19. General, The Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "Governor General of Canada [Civil
Institution]" (https://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=464&ShowAll=1).
reg.gg.ca.
20. Heritage, Canadian (11 August 2017). "Royal Crown and Cypher" (https://www.canada.ca/en/cana
dian-heritage/services/royal-symbols-titles/royal-crown-cypher.html). aem.
21. "The arms of Canada" (http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/symbl/arm1-eng.cfm). Department
of Canadian Heritage. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20090228113731/http://pch.gc.ca/pg
m/ceem-cced/symbl/arm1-eng.cfm) from the original on 2009-02-28. Retrieved 2011-07-27.

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22. Heritage, Canadian (11 August 2017). "Royal Anthem" (https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-herita

ge/services/royal-symbols-titles/royal-anthem.html). aem. "'O Canada' and 'God Save the
Queen'/'Dieu sauve la Reine' were approved by Parliament in 1967 as Canada's national and
royal anthems. However, legislation to this effect was passed only in 1980, and applied only to 'O
Canada.' (https://web.archive.org/web/20111010193142/http://thecanadianencyclopedia.com/inde
x.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0002533)"
23. "National Sports of Canada Act, CHAPTER N-16.7" (http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/sc/legsltn/n-16-en
g.cfm). Code of Canada. Government of Canada. 12 May 1994. Archived (https://web.archive.org/
web/20120419030904/http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/sc/legsltn/n-16-eng.cfm) from the original on 19
April 2012.

External links
Canadian Heritage: Symbols of Canada (http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2011/pc-c
h/CH4-130-2010-eng.pdf) (PDF)

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