- The Governor General of Canada
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VIA Rail Canada Inc.
Montréal, Quebec
Grant of Arms, Supporters, Flag and Badge
May 15, 2020
Vol. VII, p. 253
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Blazon
Arms
Per fess Sable and Or, in chief a bar fracted of five pieces Or and in base two bendlets sinister Sable, all within a bordure Or;
Crest
A locomotive wheel Or issuant from a coronet erablé Gules;
Supporters
Two lynx Or each standing on a sandy base set with a bed of crushed stone proper;
Motto
VIA PER FINES NOSTROS;
Symbolism
Arms
Black and yellow are the corporate colours of VIA Rail. The upper squares evoke the windows of a passenger rail car. The lower section shows train tracks in addition to referring to the VIA Rail wordmark.
Crest
The train wheel, an essential aspect of rail travel, alludes to VIA Rail’s past and present trains. The red maple leaf, a symbol of Canada, appears in the VIA Rail wordmark.
Supporters
Lynx are animals found across Canada and are known for their ability to travel long distances, sometimes over difficult terrain. The base made of crushed stone and flanked by natural soil represents the ballast found on the track bed of railways.
Motto
This Latin phrase means “The way across the country” and indicates VIA Rail’s services across the country. The use of the Latin word via, meaning “way,” alludes to the name of the organization.