Coat of Arms of Canada

Shield

The shield contains five coats: the three gold English "leopards" or lions passant, the Scottish lion and royal tressure; the Irish harp of Tara; the gold fleurs de lis of royal France; and a sprig with three red maple leaves to represent Canadians of all origins.

Ribbon

The ribbon is marked Desiderantes Meliorem Patriam, meaning "they desire a better country." It is the motto of the Order of Canada.

Helmet

The gold helmet facing forward represents royal sovereignty; the mantling is in Canada's national colours, red and white.

Crest

The crest is a crowned gold lion holding a maple leaf. This is used by the Governor-General of Canada , representing the Queen of Canada. At the top is St. Edward's Crown, the style of royal crown preferred by Her Majesty.

Supporters

The English lion and Scottish unicorn hold spears from which fly the Union Jack and the three fleurs-de-lis of royal France.

Motto

The motto is A Mari Usque Ad Mare, meaning "from sea to sea." It is taken from Psalm 72:8, first used in Canada in 1906 when it was engraved on the legislative mace of Saskatchewan.

See list of state mottos.

Beneath the motto is a wreath of roses, thistles[?], shamrocks, and fleurs-de-lis, the floral emblems of England, Scotland, Ireland, and France.

Heraldic blazon

Here is the heraldic blazon of Canada's coat of arms:

Tierced in fesse the first and second divisions containing the quarterly coat following, namely, 1st Gules three lions passant guardant in pale or, 2nd, Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory gules, 3rd, Azure a harp or stringed argent, 4th, Azure, three fleurs-de-lis or, and the third division Argent three maple leaves conjoined on one stem proper. And upon a Royal helmet mantled argent doubled gules the Crest, that is to say, On a wreath of the colours argent and gules a lion passant guardant or imperially crowned proper and holding in the dexter paw a maple leaf gules. And for Supporters On the dexter a lion rampant or holding a lance argent, point or, flying therefrom to the dexter the Union Flag, and on the sinister A unicorn argent armed crined and unguled or, gorged with a coronet composed of crosses-patée and fleurs-de-lis a chain affixed thereto reflexed of the last, and holding a like lance flying therefrom to the sinister a banner azure charged with three fleurs-de-lis or; the whole ensigned with the Imperial Crown proper and below the shield upon a wreath composed of roses, thistles, shamrocks and lillies a scroll azure inscribed with the motto A mari usque ad mare.

Other Canadian coats of arms

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

See also

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

External links

The arms of Canada (Canadian Heritage) (http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/sc-cs/arm1_e.cfm)