Great Seal of Canada - Definition

The Great Seal of Canada is a seal used for official purposes of state in Canada such as the certification of Acts of Parliament.

The first Great Seal of Canada was carved in England in 1869 and sent to Canada to replace a temporary seal which had been used since Canadian confederation in 1867. It depicted Queen Victoria seated behind a canopy. New seals are prepared whenever a new monarch takes the throne. The current Great Seal was made at the Royal Canadian Mint when Queen Elizabeth II succeeded her father and went into use in 1955. The Governor General of Canada is the official keeper of the great seal.

See also: Monarchy in Canada

Example Usage of Canada