As a warm-up exercise for the activity below, test your knowledge of Canada’s history, national anthem, and symbols by taking the Canadiana quiz at the Internet site at:
http://canada.gc.ca/canadiana/quiz/quiz_e.html.

Heraldry
Symbols originated as a means of human communication and identification centuries before printing, photography, and other technologies existed. Today, however, emblems, badges, and symbols originating from pretechnology times are still used, and the ancient art of heraldry has become a science. Most countries have not abandoned the custom of using armorial bearings. In the words of the Department of Canadian Heritage, “emblems and symbols [are] important for preserving traditions and inspiring love of country.” Of these emblems and symbols, the chief elements are the coat of arms and the flag; but while the flag is used more often, the coat of arms often serves as its foundation. The symbols of Canada you will be working with are: The Canadian Coat of Arms; the maple leaf; Canada’s national colours; the maple tree itself; and the Canadian flag.

Heraldry includes the use of symbols in a coat of arms. The Ensigns Armorial of the Dominion of Canada (Canada’s Coat of Arms) were declared in a proclamation by King George V on November 21, 1921. The text of this declaration, as well as a detailed description of the Canadian Coat of Arms can be found at: http://canada.gc.ca/canadiana/armm_e.html.

A reproduction of the Canadian Coat of Arms will be helpful in understanding the brief descriptions that follow. A Canadian passport, government documents, or the Canadian Encyclopedia are good places to find a copy of the Arms. As you read the following information, consider how the symbolic elements suggest a culmination of Canadian history.

The Canadian Coat of Arms
The Shield
At the centre of the Canadian Coat of Arms is a shield divided into five sections, four of which represent the founding (European) peoples of what officially became the Dominion of Canada while the fifth is distinctly Canadian. England is represented by three Royal Lions, Scotland by a single Royal Lion, Ireland by the Royal Harp of Tara and France by the Fleur-de-lis, which was raised in Canada on July 24, 1534, by Jacques Cartier when he landed at Gaspé. The final and particularly Canadian section contains three maple leaves on a single stem. (Aboriginal symbols are not included because of the sequence of the historical events—that is, the founding of a new nation by European settlers despite the fact that the land itself was already occupied.)

The Ribbon
Bruce Hicks, of Ottawa, suggested that the Coat of Arms be augmented by a ribbon inscribed with the motto of the Order of Canada: Desiderantes Meliorem Patriam (They desire a better country). On July 12, 1994, this change was made by the Queen (Canada’s Head of State) on the advice of the prime minister of Canada. The addition is an indication of the changing nature and function of symbols.

The Helm, Mantling, and Crest
In heraldry the helm (an archaic form of the word helmet) is usually placed above the arms while the mantle (originally a loose cloak) has become a decorative accessory to the crest (the decoration at the top of the Coat of Arms that resembles plumes on a helmet). The Canadian Arms shows a golden barred helm draped with a mantle in the official colours of Canada, red and white. To mark the sovereignty of Canada, a crest of a crowned gold lion holding a maple leaf stands upon the helmet.

The Supporters
On either side of the shield are two figures known in heraldry as supporters. Canada’s supporters are an English lion and a Scottish unicorn, holding a Royal Union flag and a royalist French banner respectively.

The Motto
The supporters and shield rest on Canada’s motto, A Mari usque ad Mare (From Sea Unto Sea), which was first used officially on the head of the mace for the Legislative Assembly of the new Province of Saskatchewan in 1906. It was proposed for the Canadian Coat of Arms and approved by Order in Council in April 1921, and by Royal Proclamation in November 1921.

Floral Emblems
The base of the Coat of Arms is completed by the floral emblems of the four founding nations of Canada: the English Rose; the Scottish Thistle; the Irish Shamrock, and the French Fleur-de-lis.

The Imperial Crown
The finishing touch for the Coat of Arms is the St. Edward’s crown, which replaced the Tudor crown of the original 1921 design, further indication of the flexibility of symbols. The crown represents the presence of a monarch as Canada’s Head of State.

Follow-up Discussion and Activities
1. What is the purpose of a shield in a coat of arms? What is the significance in heraldry of lions in general and those on the Canadian Coat of Arms in particular? What myths and legends throughout history may contribute to the aura of the “Great Cats?” You may wish to trace the history of the English and Scottish lions and note their symbolic import.

2. In your opinion, are lions, as part of the Canadian Coat of Arms, a relevant symbol for Canada today?

3. Research the significance of the Royal Irish Harp of Tara. Trace its history beyond Ireland and include political and religious information. Why is Ireland represented on the Canadian Coat of Arms? What does your research reveal to you about, or how does it explain, the current political situation in Ireland?

4. What is the motto on licence plates for vehicles in the province of Quebec? What is the connection of this motto with the presence of the Royal Fleur-de-lis on the Canadian Coat of Arms? What are the other French components of the Canadian Coat of Arms and why are they there?

5. Describe in detail the three maple leaves on the shield. How long has the maple leaf been associated with Canada? Research the visit of the Prince of Wales to Canada in 1860 during which the maple leaf was worn as a symbol. What does the position of the maple leaves on the shield represent symbolically?

6. What is the heraldic significance of the helm, the mantling, and the crest?

7. What is the precise origin of A Mari usque ad Mare? Who proposed this as the motto for the Canadian Coat of Arms? Do you think this motto is comprehensible or relevant to Canadians today? Why do some Canadians prefer “From Sea Unto Sea Unto Sea”? Explain the symbolic significance of this.

8. Discuss as a class what the Canadian Coat of Arms means to you. Do you think nationalistic or patriotic symbols such as the Coat of Arms are important today? Does the Coat of Arms represent the Canada of today?