Discover Canada Guide
Canadian Symbols
Symbols look simple but the details are precise, so it pays to know exact years and exact official designations rather than approximate descriptions.
Key facts for the test
- •National Flag adopted February 15, 1965
- •"O Canada" became the official anthem on July 1, 1980
- •Hockey (winter) and lacrosse (summer) are Canada's official sports
- •The beaver became an official emblem of Canada in 1975
The National Flag
The National Flag of Canada, a single red maple leaf on a white square flanked by two red bars, was officially adopted on February 15, 1965 (celebrated annually as National Flag of Canada Day), replacing the Union Jack and the Canadian Red Ensign as the country's official flag.
The national anthem
"O Canada" was composed in 1880 by Calixa Lavallée, with French lyrics by Adolphe-Basile Routhier, and English lyrics were added later. It was officially proclaimed Canada's national anthem on July 1, 1980, more than a century after it was first composed.
Official sports and animal symbols
Ice hockey is Canada's official winter sport, and lacrosse, which has Indigenous origins, is the official summer sport, both designated by the National Sports of Canada Act in 1994. The beaver, historically central to the fur trade that drove much of Canada's early European exploration and economy, was given official status as an emblem of Canada in 1975 and appears on the Canadian five-cent coin (the nickel).
Other recognized symbols
The Coat of Arms of Canada features symbols including three maple leaves and the motto "A Mari Usque Ad Mare" ("From Sea to Sea"). The Crown, as represented by the monarch, is itself considered a symbol of the state's continuity. Remembrance Day (November 11) and the red poppy are widely recognized symbols of remembrance for Canadians who served in the armed forces.
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