Ontario

Ontario, southernmost province of Canada. Ontario is the second largest of Canada’s ten provinces in area and the largest in terms of population. Commonly called the Heartland Province, Ontario is the center of Canada’s industry, population, and agriculture. Its farmers and producers have access to excellent transportation facilities, especially the St. Lawrence Seaway, which connects Lake Superior in the west to the Atlantic Ocean and is a vital trade link. Toronto, on Lake Ontario, is the province’s capital and Canada’s most populous city. The city of Ottawa, the capital of Canada, is also situated in Ontario.

The Flag of Ontario

The Flag Act was proclaimed by the Ontario Legislature on May 21, 1965. It declared the requirements for the design of the official flag of Ontario. The Canadian Red Ensign is used with the Union Jack in the upper left hand corner and the Ontario shield of arms on the right side in the middle. Courtesy of the Ministry of Government Services.

Shield of Arms

The Shield of Arms consists of three golden maple leaves, on a green background, situated below the Cross of St. George on a white background. Courtesy of the Ministry of Government Services. 

The Great Seal

The Great Seal was authorized by an Order-in-Council and has been used since January 1, 1870. It is added to documents that are released in the name of the Queen, including the appointment of the Executive Council and Ministers (the Cabinet). The Great Seal contains the Royal Coat of Arms in the centre, with a Crown above and the Shield of Arms below. Various borders and the words "The Seal of the Province of Ontario" surround these three items. A representation of the Great Seal can be found carved into the sandstone above the main entrance to the Legislative Buildings at Queen's Park. Courtesy of the Ministry of Government Services.

Coat of Arms

The Coat of Arms contains the shield of arms for the Province of Ontario. The shield was granted Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria in 1868. It also shows the Ontario crest and supporters, which were granted Royal Warrant by King Edward VII in 1909. The shield of arms consists of three golden maple leaves on a green background below the Cross of St. George. The cross of the shield is on a white background. The crest is a black bear standing on a gold and green wreath, with a moose and deer supporting both sides of the shield. Below the moose, the shield and the deer, there is a banner with the Latin motto Ut incepit Fidelis sic permanet, which translates to Loyal she began, loyal she remains. Courtesy of the Ministry of Government Services.

The Floral Emblem Act

The Floral Emblem Act was passed in Ontario in 1937. It states that "the flower known botanically as the trillium grandiflorum and popularly known as the white trillium is the floral emblem of the Province of Ontario." The white trillium can be found in deciduous forests and woodlands of the province in late April and early May. Courtesy of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The Amethyst

The Mineral Emblem Act was adopted by the Ontario Legislature in 1975. It states that the amethyst is Ontario's official Mineral emblem. The amethyst is a semi-precious purple stone that can be found in the areas surrounding Bancroft, North Bay and Thunder Bay. Courtesy of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The Eastern White Pine

The Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus Linnaeus) was declared the arboreal emblem (the official tree) of Ontario by the Arboreal Emblem Act, which was given Royal Assent on May 1, 1984. The Eastern White Pine was an important source of income and trade during the pioneering days and continues to be a valuable resource for Ontario.Courtesy of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The Common Loon

On June 23, 1994, the Avian Emblem Act was proclaimed and declared the common loon (Gavia immer) as the avian emblem of Ontario. The loon is an excellent swimmer and can be found swimming or nesting on or around many of the lakes and rivers in the province. Courtesy of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The Official Tartan of Ontario

The Province of Ontario tartan is made up of four main different blocks containing the colours red and white with three shades of green and two shades of blue. The green shades symbolize the forests and fields of Ontario while the blue colours depict the water found in the province. The First Nations of Ontario are symbolized by the colour red and the sky over the province is depicted by the colour white. The tartan was adopted when the Tartan Act, introduced by Bill Murdoch, MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, received Royal Assent on June 23, 2000.Courtesy of Bill Murdoch, Member of Provincial Parliament.

The Franco-Ontarian Flag

The Franco-Ontarian Emblem Act, 2001 received Royal Assent on June 29, 2001, thus recognizing the flag as the emblem of the French-speaking community in Ontario. The two colours represent the diversity of Ontario's climate; green for summer and white for winter. The lily evokes the French-speaking community worldwide, whereas the trillium is the floral emblem of Ontario. For more information you can visit the Office of Francophone Affairs website. Courtesy of the Office of Francophone Affairs.

There are 7 Aerie's in Ontario

	Aerie Information	Address
	#3155 FORT ERIE Tel: (905) 871-9644 2/4 MON. Website	2063 PETTIT RD. FORT ERIE , ON L2A 5M4
	#4060 FOREST CITY Tel: (519) 452-1131 1/3 WED. Website	500-1ST ST. LONDON , ON
	#4370 PHOENIX Tel: (519) 383-0966 1/3 TUES.	765 PHILLIP ST., W. SARNIA , ON
	#3991 SAULT STE MARIE Tel: (705) 949-9496 2/4 THURS.	246 WELLINGTON ST., W. SAULT STE MARIE , ON P6A
	#4061 HEYDEN-GOULAIS RIVER Tel: (705) 777-0185 1/3 THURS. Website	RT 2, SITE1 BOX 31 TROUT LAKE SAULT STE MARIE , ON
	#2311 MAPLE LEAF Tel: (416) 597-0242 2/4 WED.	17 ELM ST. TORONTO , ON
	#4269 GEORGE BRIGGS Tel: (705) 869-4269 1/3 TUES.	3 CENTRE ST. WEBBWOOD , ON P0P 2G0