Ontario Symbols
Flag:
The Flag Act was proclaimed by the Ontario Legislature on May 21, 1965. It declared the requirements for the design of the official flag of Ontario. The Canadian Red Ensign is used with the Union Jack in the upper left hand corner and the Ontario shield of arms on the right side in the middle.
Arms:
The Coat of Arms contains the shield of arms for the Province of Ontario. The shield was granted Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria in 1868. It also shows the Ontario crest and supporters, which were granted Royal Warrant by King Edward VII in 1909. The shield of arms consists of three golden maple leaves on a green background below the Cross of St. George. The cross of the shield is on a white background. The crest is a black bear standing on a gold and green wreath, with a moose and deer supporting both sides of the shield. Below the moose, the shield and the deer, there is a banner with the latin motto Ut incepit Fidelis sic permanet, which translates to Loyal she began, loyal she remains.
Shield of Arms
The Shield of Arms consists of three golden maple leaves, on a green background, situated below the Cross of St. George on a white background.
The Great Seal of the Province of Ontario
The Great Seal was authorized by an Order-in-Council and has been used since January 1, 1870. It is added to documents that are released in the name of the Queen, including the appointment of the Executive Council and Ministers (the Cabinet). The Great Seal contains the Royal Coat of Arms in the centre, with a Crown above and the Shield of Arms below. These three items are surrounded by various borders including the words The Great Seal of the Province of Ontario. A representation of the Great Seal can be found carved into the sandstone above the main entrance to the Legislative Buildings at Queen's Park.
Flower:
In Ontario, the white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum), also known as the wake-robin and the white lily, was officially adopted in 1937. It was recommended by a special committee of botanists to the Ontario Horticultural Association, which canvassed the views of other horticultural societies in the province, also of high schools and collegiate institutes. In a British botanical work published in 1760 there is a reference to the trilliums as "the herb True Love of Canada." The Floral Emblem Act was passed in Ontario in 1937. It states that "the flower known botanically as the trillium grandiflorum and popularly known as the white trillium is the floral emblem of the Province of Ontario." The white trillium can be found in deciduous forests and woodlands of the province in late April and early May.
Other symbols:
The white pine
The Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus Linnaeus) was declared the arboreal emblem (the official tree) of Ontario by the Arboreal Emblem Act, which was given Royal Assent on May 1, 1984. The Eastern White Pine was an important source of income and trade during the pioneering days and continues to be a valuable resource for Ontario.
The loon
On June 23, 1994, the Avian Emblem Act was proclaimed and declared the common loon (Gavia immer) as the avian emblem of Ontario. The loon is an excellent swimmer and can be found swimming or nesting on or around many of the lakes and rivers in the province.
The amethyst
The Mineral Emblem Act was adopted by the Ontario Legislature in 1975. It states that the amethyst is Ontario's official Mineral emblem. The amethyst is a semi-precious purple stone that can be found in the areas surrounding Bancroft, North Bay and Thunder Bay.
The colours green and yellow.
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