^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Canada - Coat of Arms

Coat of Arms of Canada

by Kevin Wharton

See also:

Canada

In 1922, the shield of the arms of Canada replaced the quartered shield badge on the Canadian Red Ensign, Blue Ensign and the flag of the Governor-General.

A decision to apply for arms had been made early in 1919, but it was two and a half years before there was agreement on the design and form of authorisation, mainly due to objections from the College of Arms and legal opinions of British Law Officers.

26 March 1919. Canadian Order in Council PC 668. A committee was appointed, "for the purpose of enquiring and reporting on advisability of requesting His Majesty for Armorial Bearings."

January 1920. Agreed design forwarded to Sir Henry Farnham Burke, Garter King of Arms. Three red maple leaves joined at the stem, on a white band, above the quartered royal arms of England, Scotland, Ireland and France. This represented Canada as the heir of the four older kingdoms. The arrangement was based on the mistaken belief that putting the white band at the top of the shield was analogous to the label of an eldest son on the arms of his parents.

Garter did not like it. He thought the design was too complicated, technically incorrect, and that the lower part was merely a variation of the Royal Arms, with the English lions in the fourth quarter replaced by fleur-de-lis. If this was correct the design would infringe the Union with Ireland Act, 1800, which governed the Royal Arms. He began consultations with various government officials and Law Officers.

13 July 1920. A revised device was approved by a Canadian Order in Council, with the colour of the leaves changed from red to green. Some members of the committee had thought that in relation to leaves, red, being an autumnal colour, suggested decay, while green, a vernal colour, represented vigour and growth. On 17th July this