Symbols of Ontario
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Symbols of Canadian province
Ontario is a province of Canada that has established several official emblems and symbols to reflect the province's history, natural resources, and its people. In addition to official symbols, several other emblems and symbols exist that are commonly associated with the province.
Several emblems and symbols are used to officially represent the province, established through royal warrant or through the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. They include:[1][2]
| Symbol | Image | Adopted | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coat of arms | Coat of arms of Ontario |  |
May 26, 1868, augmented on February 27, 1909[2] | The present coat of arms was adopted on February 27, 1909, by royal warrant of King Edward VII. The design builds upon the original shield of arms granted by royal warrant of Queen Victoria on May 26, 1868, with the addition of supporters, crest, and motto.[3] |
| Shield of arms | Shield of arms of Ontario |  |
May 26, 1868[2] | The shield of arms was granted by royal warrant of Queen Victoria. The shield of arms is used on the current-arms escutcheon.[3] Gold maple leaves were adopted on the shield of arms as it historically represented Ontario (whereas green maple leaves represented Quebec).[4] |
| Motto | Ut incepit fidelis sic permanet (English: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) | 1909 | The motto is a reference to the United Empire Loyalists, and was granted with other elements of the coat of arms in 1909.[2] The motto is in Latin, and may also be translated as "Loyal she began, thus she remains". | |
| Flag | Flag of Ontario |  |
April 14, 1965[5] | It is a defaced Red Ensign, with the Royal Union Flag in the canton and the Ontario shield of arms in the fly. Queen Elizabeth II approving the use of the Royal Union Flag in the design and the flag was adopted by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1965.[2] The flag was approved by the legislature on April 14, 1965, and was first raised on May 21, 1965.[5] |
| Flower | White trillium Trillium grandiflorum |
 |
1937[2] | Adopted as the province's official floral emblem through the Floral Emblem Act, 1937.[6] The adoption of the white trillium grew out of a movement during the First World War to choose a national floral emblem appropriate for planting on the graves of Canadian servicemen overseas. Found in the forests and woodlands of Ontario, it blooms in late April and May. They are very sensitive to light and usually bend toward the sun as it moves across the sky. Contrary to popular belief, it is not illegal to pick a White Trillium in Ontario. However, picking the flower can seriously injure the plant and it can take years to recover.[2] |
| Bird | Common loon Gavia immer |
 |
June 23, 1994[2] | The common loon was designated as an official emblem of the province through the Avian Emblem Act, 1994.[7] The common loon is found across the province. The image of a common loon is also displayed on the Canadian one-dollar coin, commonly called a "loonie".[2] |
| Colours | Green and yellow[2] or green and gold[8][9] | [10] | ||
| Francophone flag | Franco-Ontarian flag |  |
September 24, 2020[11] | Recognized under provincial law as an emblem of the province of Ontario, as well as Franco-Ontarians. The flag was adopted as an official emblem of Ontario in 2020 by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, through an amendment to the Franco-Ontarian Emblem Act. The flag was initially adopted as an emblem for Franco-Ontarians through the Franco-Ontarian Emblem Act on June 29, 2001.[1][12] |
| Gemstone | Amethyst |  |
July 7, 1975[13] | Established as an official emblem of the province through the Mineral Emblem Act, 1975.[13] Amethyst was adopted in order to represent the mineral wealth of the province. Amethyst can be found in clusters throughout northern Ontario, concentrating around the area of Thunder Bay.[2] |
| Tartan | Red and white with three shades of green and two shades of blue | June 23, 2000[14] | The tartan was created in 1965 by Rotex Ltd., although was not formally adopted as the provincial tartan until the Tartan Act, 2000 was passed.[14][15] The tartan is made up of four blocks of colour, red, white, three shades of green and two shades of blue. The shades of green represent the forests and fields of Ontario, while the blue represents the waters. The red represents its First Nations and the white, the sky over the province.[2] | |
| Tree | Eastern white pine Pinus strobus |
 |
May 1, 1984[2] | The eastern white pine was adopted as an official emblem of the province through the Arboreal Emblem Act, 1984.[16] The tree species is found throughout Ontario. It is the tallest tree in the province and can live over 250 years. Known as "the Tree of Great Peace" by the Haudenosaunee First Nations of Southern Ontario. The eastern white pine was also an important source of income and trade during the province's early days.[2] |
Other symbols
Several emblems and symbols exist that are commonly associated with province. They include:
| Symbol | Image | Created | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthem | A Place to Stand, a Place to Grow | 1967 | The song is considered as the "unofficial" anthem of the province.[17] The song was commissioned by the government of Ontario in 1967 for a short film of the same name and was screened at the Ontario pavilion of Expo 67.[18][19] The song was composed by Dolores Claman and Richard Morris. In 2016, the government of Ontario commissioned an "updated" version of the song and features a second verse in French.[18] | |
| Great Seal | The Great Seal of the Province of Ontario |  |
1870[20] | The Great Seal of Ontario consists of the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom, the Crown, the motto Dieu et mon droit (English: God and my right), and the shield of arms of Ontario. The Great Seal was created in 1870 by royal warrant of Queen Victoria and designed by the Chief Engraver of Her Majesty's Seals. It is used on official documents, proclamations, and commissions appointing public officials. The lieutenant governor of Ontario is sworn in as "Keeper of the Great Seal".[20] |
| Logo | Government of Ontario wordmark | 1964 (introduced) 2019 (present design)[21] |
A black "trillium logo" was first introduced by the government of Ontario in 1964, and underwent minor modifications in 1972, 1994, and 2002. During the 1980s, the logo was imposed on a blue background. Modifications in 1994 included a change in colour to green, before it reverted to black in 2002. The logo was modified again in 2019, eliminating the box that surrounds the logo, and adding three abstract human figures to the design.[21] | |
| Order | Order of Ontario |   |
1986[22] | The Order of Ontario is the province's highest honour that it can bestow on an individual. The order was created in 1986 with its first appointments made in 1987.[22] |
| Provincial licence plate slogan | Yours to Discover or tant à découvrir |   |
1982–2020 2020–present[23] |
Since 2008, licence plates may be ordered with the slogan in either the English or French language. The slogan is not used on provincial licence plates for electric vehicles.
The present slogan Yours to Discover replaced the Keep it Beautiful slogan used on provincial licence plates from 1973 to 1982. In 2020, the current slogan was briefly replaced by a new slogan, A Place to Grow (French: en plein essor). However, the new slogan was later scrapped in that same year.[23] |
Symbols of the lieutenant governor of Ontario
There exists several official emblems and symbols to represent the lieutenant governor of Ontario.
| Symbol | Image | Created | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emblem | Emblem of the lieutenant governor of Ontario |  |
Consists of the Escutcheon of Arms of Ontario, surmounted by St. Edward's Crown, surrounded by ten golden maple leaves.[20] | |
| Flag | Flag of the lieutenant governor of Ontario |  |
May 13, 1981[20] | Consists of the Escutcheon of Arms of Ontario, surmounted by St. Edward's Crown, on a blue field, surrounded by ten golden maple leaves.
It is flown outside the suite at Queen's Park when the lieutenant governor is in the provincial capital, Toronto. It is also displayed in the lieutenant governor's office and in the Music Room, where ceremonies take place. It is mounted on the car in which the lieutenant governor travels, and is flown at public buildings, Canadian Forces establishments, and on Her Majesty's Canadian Ships during official visits. The flag of the lieutenant governor takes precedence over all other flags in Ontario, including the National Flag of Canada, except in the presence of The Queen, when the Queen's Personal Canadian Flag is flown instead. The flag of the lieutenant governor also precedes the flag of the governor general of Canada in cases where the lieutenant governor is hosting an event at which the governor general of Canada is present. The flag is never lowered to half-mast; however, upon the death of a lieutenant governor while in office, it is taken down until a successor is installed.[20] |
| Seal | Privy seal of the lieutenant governor of Ontario | The privy seal features the coat of arms of Ontario and is impressed through a red wafer. Used on commissions appointing the honorary aides-de-camps, and until 2002, certain public appointments and official documents were required to bear the seal.[20] | ||
References
- 1 2 "Ontario's Symbols". ola.org. Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Ontario's provincial symbols". canada.ca. Government of Canada. 15 August 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- 1 2 "Arms & Badges - Arms of Canada's Provinces and Territories". heraldry.ca. Royal Heraldry Society of Canada. 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- ↑ "Shield of Arms". onzone.ca. Government of Ontario. April 23, 2008. Archived from the original on December 7, 2009.
- 1 2 Smith, Whitney. "Flag of Ontario". britannica.com. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- ↑ "Floral Emblem Act". digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca. York University. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- ↑ "Avian Emblem Act, 1994". ontario.ca. Queen's Printer for Ontario. 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
- ↑ "Lieutenant Governor's Community Volunteer Award". citizenship.gov.on.ca. Queen’s Printer for Ontario. 2008. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ↑ "ON Parliament Ep. 22: Symbols of Ontario". www.ola.org. 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ↑ "Government of Ontario Logo Usage Guidelines" (PDF). Government of Ontario Logo Usage Guidelines. Ontario Arts Council. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ↑ "Bill 182, Franco-Ontarian Emblem Amendment Act, 2020". ola.org. Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- ↑ "Bill 182, Franco-Ontarian Emblem Amendment Act, 2020". www.ola.org. Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
- 1 2 "The Mineral Emblem Act, 1975". digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca. York University. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- 1 2 "Tartan Act, 2000". ontario.ca. Queen's Printer for Ontario. 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- ↑ Lewis, Brenda Ralph (2004). Tartans. Edison, New Jersey: Chartwell Books, Inc. ISBN 9780785818793.
- ↑ "Arboreal Emblem Act, 1984". digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca. York University. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
- ↑ "'A Place to Stand:' Ontario's unofficial anthem gets a makeover". cbc.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. September 19, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
- 1 2 Hong, Jackie (September 16, 2016). "Ontario's catchy 'A place to stand' theme grows up". thestar.com. Torstar Corporation. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
- ↑ Burman, Dilshad (February 10, 2020). "Your reactions: criticisms and kudos for Ontario's new licence plates". toronto.citynews.ca. Rogers Digital Media. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Protocols and Symbols". lgontario.ca. Queen's Printer for Ontario. 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- 1 2 "Critics stomp on new trillium logo". cbc.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. June 26, 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- 1 2 "The Order of Ontario". ontario.ca. Queen's Printer for Ontario. May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
- 1 2 Artuso, Antonella (May 6, 2020). "Yours to Discover again as Ontario nixes blue licence plates". orontosun.com. Postmedia Network. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
