- The Governor General of Canada
The contents of this Register are intended for research purposes only. The heraldic emblems found in the Register may not be reproduced in any form or in any media without the written consent of the Canadian Heraldic Authority and/or the recipient.
Province of Ontario
Toronto, Ontario
Registration of Arms, Supporters and Flag
October 15, 2010
Vol. VI, p. 2
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Vert a sprig of three maple leaves Or, on a chief Argent a cross Gules;
Crest
A bear passant Sable;
Supporters
Dexter a moose, sinister a Canadian deer proper;
Motto
UT INCEPIT FIDELIS SIC PERMANET;
Flag
Gules an escutcheon of the Arms of Ontario, a canton of the Royal Union Flag proper;
Symbolism
Arms
The maple leaves represent Canada. The cross of St. George is a symbol of England.
Crest
The black bear is an animal native to Ontario.
Supporters
The moose and the deer are animals native to Ontario.
Motto
Meaning “As loyal she began, so loyal she remains”, this Latin motto alludes to the creation of the province, as Upper Canada, by the United Empire Loyalists after the American Revolutionary War.
Flag
The flag follows the design of the Canadian Red Ensign, used as an official emblem of Canada prior to 1965, with the provincial arms in place of the national.
Background
Canada Gazette Information
The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on November 12, 2011, in Volume 145, page 3514 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Original concept of the heralds of the College of Arms, London (Arms), Edward Marion Chadwick (Crest, Motto and Supporters) and the Government of Ontario (Flag).
Painter
Dennis Field
Calligrapher
* Not applicable / Sans objet
Recipient Information
Civil Institution
Provincial & Territorial (General)
The arms were originally recorded in the records of the College of Arms, London, England, 26 May 1868, as a Royal Warrant of Her Majesty Queen Victoria.
The crest, motto and supporters were originally recorded in the records of the College of Arms, London, England, 27 February 1909.
The flag was adopted by The Flag Act, 1965 (S.O. 1965, c. 42), proclaimed into force effective 21 May 1965.
Photo courtesy of Tom Foulds