Coat of arms of Ontario

The Coat of Arms of Ontario
Versions

For use by the Government of Ontario

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For use by the Legislative Assembly
Details
Armiger Elizabeth II in Right of Ontario
Adopted 1868, augmented 1909
Crest Upon a wreath of the colours a bear passant Sable
Escutcheon Vert, a sprig of three maple leaves slipped Or, on a chief argent a cross gules.
Supporters On the dexter side a moose and on the sinister side a deer, both proper.
Motto UT INCEPIT FIDELIS SIC PERMANET
Loyal she began, loyal she remains

The coat of arms of Ontario was granted by Royal Warrant of Queen Victoria on 26 May 1868.[1][2] This arms of Canada was shared with the provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and also used in the Canadian Red Ensign. The Dominion Arms was simple and lacked supporters. The award of arms was augmented with supporters and a crest by Royal Warrant of King Edward VII on 27 February 1909.

The province's arms are the only one without royal symbols, namely a crown--although the motto of Ontario, which translates from the Latin "Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet" as "Loyal She Began, Thus She Remains" references perpetual loyalty to the Crown.

Symbolism

Crest

The crest is a black bear standing on a gold and green wreath

Shield

The shield of arms — which appears on Ontario's flag According to the Royal Society of Heraldry, " On May 26, 1868 Ontario was granted arms within the new Dominion of Canada. The supporters, crest, and motto, designed by Toronto barrister Edward Marion Chadwick, were added on Feb 27, 1909 by Royal Warrant from King Edward VII. The shield of arms consists of three gold maple leaves on a green background, above which is a wide white band with a red St. George's cross. The crest is a black bear standing on a gold and green wreath. The supporters are a moose and a deer at the sides of the shield. Below the shield is a scroll with the Latin motto. The maple leaves on the shield are of course the symbol of Canada. The cross of St. George recalls the historic connection with Britain in Upper Canada and pays tribute to the namesake of the monarch, George III, while the black bear, moose, and deer are indigenous to Ontario.

Supporters

a moose and deer

Motto

The motto is Ut incepit Fidelis sic permanet, Latin for Loyal she began, loyal she remains. It refers to the Loyalist refugees from the American Revolution, who settled in the Province of Canada, and for whom the area was separated as Upper Canada.

See also

References

  1. "Ceremonial and Canadian Symbols Promotion – Ontario". Pch.gc.ca. 24 September 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
  2. "Royal Heraldry Society of Canada – Arms of Canada's Provinces and Territories". RHSC. 3 May 2004. Retrieved 6 October 2008.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Coat of arms of Ontario.


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