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Canadian Civic Heraldry

OTTAWA

Province : Ontario

Origin/meaning:

Ottawa's coat of arms was granted on September 15, 1954, and formally declared in use January 1, 1955.
The shield of the old arms consists of a navy blue and white cross, a crown and a red maple leaf. The cross represents the junction of three rivers at the site of the city: the vertical arms are the Rideau and Gatineau rivers which flow at right angles into the Ottawa. The cross also symbolises the advent of Christianity into these regions.
The Royal Crown, modelled after the St.Edward's Crown, refers to the choice by Queen Victoria of Ottawa as the capital of the Province of Canada. The red maple leaf represents the country of Canada.

The three devices on the chief refer to (1) the Indian tribe of the Outaouais, the first inhabitants of the area; (2) the astrolabe of Samuel de Champlain who initially explored this region in 1613; and (3) the Royal Engineers (pick and shovel crossed behind a grenade) who, under Lt.-Col. By, build the Rideau Canal and founded Bytown.

The crest consists of a white pine bearing cones, symbol of the main economic asset of the Ottawa Valley for almost a century. The golden roundel displays an oak taken from the seal of old Bytown.

The dexter supporter is a timber trimmer clad in the dress of the 1850's wearing pacs and holding a broad-axe such as was used in the trimming and shaping of the Ottawa Valley pines. The sinister supporter is an officer of the Civil Service Rifle Regiment of Ottawa in full dress uniform, indicating that Ottawa is the residence of the Governor-General for whom the Regiment provided a regular defence force. It also symbolises that Ottawa is the seat of the Civil Service of Canada.

The motto is written in the two official languages of Canada.

After the merger with several municipalities it was decided that Ottawa should have new arms. The arms shown below finally were approved by the committee appointed for this task in November 2000. In February 2001 the Ottawa city council, however, rejected the proposal and the old arms remained the arms for the larger city.

In May 2000 the city of Ottawa launched a contest for new arms. The new designs are intended to replace a hodge-podge of symbols and logos that belong to the 12 current municipalities. In total 400 submissions were received. The collective submissions favoured the colours blue, green and red and the following themes or keys: quality of life (45 per cent), maple leaves (44), Parliament Hill (34), rivers (31) and the environment (25). The capital's exploding high technology sector was mentioned by only nine per cent of respondents.

Below three submissions are shown (text and images taken from the Ottawa Citizen):

The first one is memorable for the goose carrying a single ice skate and the white swan -- evocative of our own Royal Swans -- carrying a cornucopia of cheese, grain and corn.
"The swan and Canada goose were chosen for their beauty and symbolism," says the entry. "The swan is a figure of grace and sophistication. ... The Canada goose represents movement, precision and enduring Canadian tradition.
"Like our city, the birds are beautiful, yet strong."
The birds appear to be standing on a bed of green grass bearing tulips, fall leaves and snowflakes. The flag and logo from this submission is much more modern: a streaming green swoosh around the O in Ottawa and the updated slogan, Shaping Our Future Together.
The first coat-of-arms motto, in Latin, is Prosperitas Una, meaning Prosperity Together.

The second entry includes the loon wearing a crown. "The loon is calling," says the supporting document, "and is ready to take flight, just as the 12 municipalities are about to take flight towards a new union of hope and prosperity."
The loon is flanked by a pair of deer, a stag and a doe.

In the third coat-of-arms, there is a mute swan carrying a globe. On either side, there is a grey wolf carrying an emblematic white pine and a Canadian breed of horse carrying the symbol of the Speaker's Chair in the House of Commons.
It bears the Latin expression Sic Itur Ad Astra, meaning Thus one Reaches the Stars.
"The shield's supporters, a grey wolf and a Canadian Horse, acknowledge the coming together of wilderness and civilization in the Ottawa Valley," says a report to the committee.

Literature : Information provided by the City of Ottawa; Ottawa Citizen newspaper

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