🐦 Chapter 8: Canadian Symbols
Canada adopted an official coat of arms and national motto soon after which event?
Correct answer: The First World War
A Confederation
✓ The First World War
C The Second World War
D The Crimean War
💡 Explanation
Both the arms and the motto were adopted after the First World War as an expression of national pride.
Key facts to remember
- The coat of arms and motto followed the First World War
- The motto is A Mari Usque Ad Mare
- In Latin it means "from sea to sea"
- The arms are also called the Royal Arms of Canada
- The arms show symbols of England, France, Scotland and Ireland
- Red maple leaves also appear on the arms
- The arms are seen on dollar bills and government documents
- They also appear on public buildings
Why this is the answer
From the official Discover Canada study guide — 8.2.3 Coat of Arms and Motto:
After the First World War, Canadians felt a strong sense of national pride. Out of that feeling the country adopted an official coat of arms, also called the Royal Arms of Canada, and a national motto. The motto is in Latin: A Mari Usque Ad Mare. In English it means "from sea to sea." The words describe a country that stretches across a continent, from one ocean to another, and they are learned by everyone preparing for citizenship.
The arms gather the roots of the country into one design. They carry symbols of England, France, Scotland and Ireland, and red maple leaves for Canada itself. You do not need to visit a palace to see them. The arms are printed on dollar bills, they head government documents, and they are fixed to public buildings across the country. In this way the four founding traditions and the maple leaf appear together in ordinary daily life.
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