Coat of Arms of Ontario - Definition and Overview

The Coat of Arms of Ontario, formally The Arms of Her Majesty in Right of Ontario, was begun when the shield was granted by Royal Warrant of Queen Victoria in 1868. The crest and supporters were granted Royal Warrant by King Edward VII in 1909.

Symbols

The shield of arms consists of three golden maple leaves, representing Canada, on a green background. On a chief is Cross of St. George, representing England.

The crest is a black bear standing on a gold and green wreath, with a moose and deer supporting either side of the shield.

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 Ontario while it was still part of Quebec, and for whom the area was separated as Upper Canada.

Blazon

The shield is blazoned:

Vert, a sprig of three maple leaves slipped Or, on a chief argent a cross gules.

Use

The shield of arms is used on the Flag of Ontario.

Other Canadian coats of arms

Canada - Alberta - British Columbia - Manitoba - New Brunswick - Newfoundland and Labrador - Northwest Territories - Nova Scotia - Nunavut - Quebec - Prince Edward Island - Saskatchewan - Yukon

See also

• Ontario
• Flag of Ontario
• List of Canadian provincial and territorial symbols
• Heraldry

External links

• Coat of Arms of Ontario (Government of Ontario) (http://www.gov.on.ca/MBS/english/about/emblems2.html#coat)
• A Proposal for the Arms of Ontario, by Jonathan Good (http://www.mad-alchemy.com/hsc/opin-3.htm)