Symbols of Ontario


Ontario is one of Canada's provinces, and has established several provincial symbols.

Official symbols

SymbolImageAdoptedRemarks
Coat of armsCoat of arms of Ontario1868 and 1909The original arms consisted of the current-day escutcheon, granted by Royal warrant of Queen Victoria on May 26, 1868. Addition of supporters, crest and motto, granted on February 27, 1909, by Royal warrant of King Edward VII.
MottoUt incepit fidelis sic permanet
Loyal she began, loyal she remains
1909Granted with other elements of the coat of arms
FlagFlag of OntarioMay 21, 1965It is a defaced Red Ensign, with the Royal Union Flag in the Canton, representing Ontario’s roots as a part of the British Empire, and the Ontario Shield of Arms in the Fly, symbolizing the province’s loyalty to Canada. The flag was introduced in 1965 in the wake of lengthy debates on changing the Canadian Red Ensign with a unique Canadian flag.
The Great SealThe Great Seal of the Province of OntarioJanuary 1, 1870The Great Seal was authorized by an Order-in-Council.
BirdCommon loon
Gavia immer		June 23, 1994The image of a common loon is displayed on the Canadian One Dollar Coin; the coin is commonly called a "Loonie".
TreeEastern white pine
Pinus strobus		May 1, 1984Found throughout Ontario, the eastern white pine is the tallest tree in the province and can live over 250 years. Known as "the Tree of Great Peace" by the Haudenosaunee First Nations of Southern Ontario. The eastern white pine was also an important source of income and trade during the province’s early days.
GemstoneAmethyst1975Amethyst can be found in clusters throughout northern Ontario, concentrating around the area of Thunder Bay.
FlowerWhite trillium
Trillium grandiflorum		1937The adoption of the White Trillium grew out of a movement during the First World War to choose a national floral emblem appropriate for planting on the graves of Canadian servicemen overseas. Found in the forests and woodlands of Ontario, it blooms in late April and May. They are very sensitive to light and usually bend toward the sun as it moves across the sky. Contrary to popular belief, it is not illegal to pick a White Trillium in Ontario. However, picking the flower can seriously injure the plant and it can take years to recover.
TartanRed and white with three shades of green and two shades of blueJune 23, 2000Ontario tartan is made up of four blocks of colour: red, white, three shades of green and two shades of blue. The shades of green represent the forests and fields of Ontario, while the blue represents the waters. The red represents its First Nations and the white, the sky over the province.
Emblem of the Lieutenant GovernorEmblem of the Lieutenant Governor of OntarioConsists of the Escutcheon of Arms of Ontario, surmounted by St. Edward's Crown, surrounded by ten golden maple leaves.
Flag of the Lieutenant GovernorFlag of the Lieutenant Governor of OntarioMay 13, 1981Consists of the Escutcheon of Arms of Ontario, surmounted by St. Edward's Crown, on a blue field, surrounded by ten golden maple leaves.
It is flown outside the suite at Queen's Park when the Lieutenant Governor is in the provincial capital, Toronto. It is also displayed in the Lieutenant Governor’s office and in the Music Room, where ceremonies take place. It is mounted on the car in which the Lieutenant Governor travels, and is flown at public buildings, Canadian Forces establishments, and on Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships during official visits.
The flag of the Lieutenant Governor takes precedence over all other flags in Ontario, including the National Flag of Canada, except in the presence of The Queen, when The Queen’s Personal Canadian Flag is flown instead. The flag of the Lieutenant Governor also precedes the flag of the Governor General of Canada in cases where the Lieutenant Governor is hosting an event at which the Governor General of Canada is present. The flag is never lowered to half-mast; however, upon the death of a Lieutenant Governor while in office, it is taken down until a successor is installed.
Franco-Ontarian FlagFranco-Ontarian FlagJune 29, 2001Recognized under provincial law as the emblem of the French-speaking community in Ontario.
LogoProvincial wordmark
2007		2007Current wordmark of the Government of Ontario
LogoProvincial wordmark1964Previous wordmark of the Government of Ontario.
Provincial Licence plate sloganYours to Discover1982-2020 2020-presentReplaced earlier slogan Keep it Beautiful. The slogan A Place to Grow had briefly replaced the Yours to Discover but was scrapped due to the plates having readability issues. French equivalent available from 2008 onwards.
Provincial coloursGreen and gold or yellow