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'''OTTAWA''' | '''OTTAWA''' | ||
Revision as of 14:44, 31 January 2024
OTTAWA
Province : Ontario
Additions : 2001 Ottawa-Carleton Region, Cumberland, Fitzroy, Gloucester, Goulbourn, Huntley, March, Marlborough, Nepean, North Gower, Osgoode, Richmond, Rockliffe, Stittsville, Torbolton, Vanier
Official blazon
Arms : Argent a cross wavy Azure charged with a like cross Argent between in the first quarter the Royal Crown proper and in the fourth quarter a maple leaf Gules on a chief also Gules an astrolabe Argent between to the dexter two arrows in saltire points upwards Argent surmounted by an Indian canoe paddle erect Or and to the sinister a spade and pick axe in saltire Argent surmounted by a grenade Or fired proper.
Crest: A white pine fructed proper charged with a bezant thereon an oak tree eradicated and fructed proper.
Supporters: On a grassy mound strewn with white pine cones dexter a timber trimmer of the date 1850 holding in the exterior hand a trimming axe head downwards and on the sinister an officer of the Civil Service Rifle Regiment all proper.
Motto: ADVANCE OTTAWA EN AVANT
Origin/meaning
Ottawa's coat of arms was granted on September 15, 1954, formally declared in use January 1, 1955 and again granted on February 23, 1990. The arms were again confirmed on June 15, 2001.
The shield of the 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, taken from the seal of old Bytown (see below), symbol of the main economic asset of the Ottawa Valley for almost a century. The golden roundel displays an oak tree.
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.
Proposals
After the merger with several municipalities it was decided that Ottawa should have new arms. In May 2000 the city of Ottawa thus launched a contest for 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.
Different designs were made for new arms. The new designs were intended to replace a hodge-podge of symbols and logos that belong to the 12 previous 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):
- First example:
The design 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 motto is Prosperitas Una, meaning Prosperity Together.
- Second example:
This design 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.
- Third example:
In these 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 motto Sic Itur Ad Astra, meaning Thus one Reaches the Stars.
The supporters, a grey wolf and a Canadian Horse, acknowledge the coming together of wilderness and civilization in the Ottawa Valley.
Historical arms
The first seal of the town of Bytown (in 1855 renamed to Ottawa) showed a single pine tree:
At the end of the 19th and early 20th century the city used a complicated shield with symbols of agriculture and industry:
A coloured version hereof can be seen on some Crested china:
Contact and Support
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© since 1995, Heraldry of the World, Ralf Hartemink 
Index of the site
Literature : Information provided by the http://www.city.ottawa.on.ca and http://www.ottawacitizen.com/city/000830/4539173.html