Canadian Symbols

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. King Charles III is the current Sovereign and head of state. The Monarch is represented in Canada by the Governor General at the federal level, and by Lieutenant Governors in each of the 10 provinces.

Flags in Canada

A new Canadian flag was raised for the first time on 15 February 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 became Canada's official national colours in 1921 by proclamation of King George V.

• Red — the symbolic colour of England and of Canada's sacrifice in war.
• White — the symbolic colour of France.
• Maple leaf — 11 points, representing all of Canada.
• The Union Jack — Canada's official Royal Flag.
• The Canadian Red Ensign — served as the national flag for about 100 years and has been carried officially by veterans since 2005.
• Each province and territory also has its own flag, embodying its distinct traditions.

The maple leaf

The maple leaf is Canada's best-known symbol. It was adopted as a symbol by French Canadians in the 1700s, has appeared on Canadian uniforms and insignia since the 1850s, and is carved into the headstones of Canadian 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.

Coat of Arms and motto

As an expression of national pride after the First World War, Canada adopted an official Coat of Arms in 1921 along with a national motto, A Mari Usque Ad Mare — Latin for "from sea to sea" (taken from Psalm 72:8). The arms can be seen today on dollar bills, government documents and public buildings.

• Three red maple leaves at the bottom — a distinctly Canadian element.
• Royal symbols of England (the lion), Scotland (the unicorn), Ireland (the harp) and France (the fleur-de-lys).
• The Crown of King Edward VII at the top.
• The motto "A Mari Usque Ad Mare" on a scroll.

Parliament Buildings

The towers, arches, sculptures and stained glass of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa embody the French, English and Aboriginal traditions and the Gothic Revival architecture popular in the time of Queen Victoria. The buildings were completed in the 1860s. The Centre Block was destroyed by an accidental fire in 1916 and rebuilt in 1922. The Library is the only part of the original building remaining.

The provincial legislatures are architectural treasures. The Quebec National Assembly is built in the French Second Empire style, while the other provincial legislatures are Baroque, Romanesque and neoclassical, reflecting the Greco-Roman heritage of Western civilization in which democracy originated.

Popular sports

Hockey is Canada's most popular spectator sport and is considered the national winter sport. Ice hockey was developed in Canada in the 1800s. The National Hockey League plays for the championship Stanley Cup, donated by Lord Stanley, the Governor General, in 1892. The Clarkson Cup, established in 2005 by Adrienne Clarkson — the 26th Governor General and the first of Asian origin — is awarded for women's hockey.

• Canadian football — the second most popular sport.
• Curling — an ice game introduced by Scottish pioneers.
• Lacrosse — an ancient sport first played by Indigenous peoples, the official summer sport of Canada.
• Soccer — has the most registered players of any game in Canada.

The beaver

The beaver was adopted centuries ago as a symbol of the Hudson's Bay Company. It became an emblem of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society, a French-Canadian patriotic association, in 1834. This industrious rodent can be seen on the five-cent coin, on the coats of arms of Saskatchewan and Alberta, and of cities such as Montreal and Toronto.

Other Canadian icons

• The Snowbirds (431 Air Demonstration Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force) — a Canadian icon known internationally for their precision aerial demonstrations.
• The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP, the "Mounties") — Canada's federal police force and a symbol of the country. The RCMP Musical Ride is famous around the world.
• The Mace of the House of Commons — carried into the Chamber when Parliament is in session, symbolising the authority of the Speaker and the House.

Canada's official languages

English and French are the two official languages of Canada and important symbols of identity. English speakers (Anglophones) and French speakers (Francophones) have lived together in partnership and creative tension for more than 300 years.

Parliament passed the Official Languages Act in 1969. It has three main objectives:

• Establish equality between French and English in Parliament, the Government of Canada and federal institutions.
• Maintain and develop official language minority communities in Canada.
• Promote equality of French and English in Canadian society.

The Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross (V.C.) is the highest honour available to Canadians. It is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery, a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy. The V.C. has been awarded to 96 Canadians since 1854.

• Lieutenant Alexander Roberts Dunn (born in present-day Toronto) served in the British Army at the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava (1854) in the Crimean War — the first Canadian awarded the V.C.
• Able Seaman William Hall of Horton, Nova Scotia, whose parents were American slaves, was the first black man to receive the V.C. — for his role in the Siege of Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
• Corporal Filip Konowal, born in Ukraine, showed exceptional courage at the Battle of Hill 70 in 1917 — the first member of the Canadian Corps not born in the British Empire to receive the V.C.
• Captain Billy Bishop, born in Owen Sound, Ontario, earned the V.C. in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War as a flying ace.
• Captain Paul Triquet of Cabano, Quebec, earned the V.C. leading his men in the attack on Casa Berardi in Italy in 1943, during the Second World War.
• Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray, a navy pilot born in Trail, British Columbia, was killed bombing a Japanese warship in August 1945 — the last Canadian to receive the V.C. to date.

Anthems

O Canada was proclaimed the national anthem in 1980. It was first sung in Québec City in 1880; the music was composed by Calixa Lavallée, the French lyrics written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier. French and English Canadians sing different words to the national anthem.

God Save the King (or Queen) is the Royal Anthem of Canada. It can be played or sung on any occasion when Canadians wish to honour the Sovereign.

Both versions of O Canada are official, with different lyrics. The English version is the most commonly cited in citizenship test answers.

The Order of Canada and other honours

All countries have ways to recognise outstanding citizens. Official awards are called honours, consisting of orders, decorations and medals. After using British honours for many years, Canada started its own honours system with the Order of Canada in 1967, the centennial of Confederation. If you know fellow citizens who you think are worthy of recognition, you are welcome to nominate them.

National public holidays and important dates

1. 1 January
   New Year's Day.
2. 11 January
   Sir John A. Macdonald Day — first Prime Minister of Canada.
3. Late March / April
   Good Friday and Easter Monday.
4. 9 April
   Vimy Day — anniversary of the 1917 Canadian victory at Vimy Ridge.
5. Monday before 25 May
   Victoria Day — Sovereign's official birthday.
6. 24 June
   Fête nationale du Québec — Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day.
7. 1 July
   Canada Day — anniversary of Confederation (1867).
8. 1st Monday of September
   Labour Day.
9. 2nd Monday of October
   Thanksgiving Day.
10. 11 November
    Remembrance Day — honouring veterans.
11. 20 November
    Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day — first French-Canadian Prime Minister.
12. 25 December
    Christmas Day.
13. 26 December
    Boxing Day.

Memory aid