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Canada has many important symbols — objects, events, and people that have special meaning. Together
they help explain what it means to be Canadian and express our national identity. Important Canadian
symbols appear throughout this booklet.
The Canadian Red Ensign
served as the national
flag for 100 years, and
has been carried officially
by veterans since 2005
Your Canadian Citizenship
Study Guide
Canadian Symbols
38
(From Left to Right)
Mace of the House of
Commons, Ottawa
Canadian flag
of 1965
The Royal Arms
of Canada
Parliament at dusk
The Snowbirds (431
Air Demonstration
Squadron) are a
Canadian icon
The Canadian Crown
The Crown has been a symbol of the state
in Canada for 400 years. Canada has been a
constitutional monarchy in its own right since
Confederation in 1867 during Queen Victoria’s
reign. Queen Elizabeth II, who has been Queen
of Canada since 1952, marked her Golden Jubilee
in 2002, and celebrates her Diamond Jubilee
(60 years as Sovereign) in 2012. The Crown is a
symbol of government, including Parliament, the
legislatures, the courts, police services and the
Canadian Forces.
Flags in Canada
A new Canadian flag was raised for the first time
in 1965. The red-white-red pattern comes from
the flag of the Royal Military College, Kingston,
founded in 1876. Red and white had been colours
of France and England since the Middle Ages and
the national colours of Canada since 1921. The
Union Jack is our official Royal Flag. The Canadian
Red Ensign served as the Canadian flag for about
100 years. The provinces and territories also have
flags that embody their distinct traditions.
The maple leaf
The maple leaf is Canada’s best-known symbol.
Maple leaves were adopted as a symbol by
French Canadians in the 1700s, have appeared
on Canadian uniforms and insignia since the
1850s, and are carved into the headstones of our
fallen soldiers buried overseas and in Canada.
The fleur-de-lys
It is said that the lily flower (“fleur-de-lys”) was
adopted by the French king in the year 496. It
became the symbol of French royalty for more than
1,000 years, including the colony of New France.
Revived at Confederation, the fleur-de-lys was
included in the Canadian Red Ensign. In 1948
Quebec adopted its own flag, based on the Cross
and the fleur-de-lys (see p. 47).
Coat of arms and motto
As an expression of national pride after the First
World War, Canada adopted an official coat of
arms and a national motto,
A mari usque ad
mare,
which in Latin means “from sea to sea.”
The arms contain symbols of England, France,
Scotland and Ireland as well as red maple leaves.
Today the arms can be seen on dollar bills,
government documents and public buildings.
Parliament buildings
The towers, arches, sculptures and stained glass
of the Parliament Buildings embody the French,
English and Aboriginal traditions and the Gothic
Revival architecture popular in the time of Queen