Canadian Symbols & Citizenship

What is a symbol?  Something that, or someone who, stands for or represents something else, especially an idea, or quality.

Some Canadian Symbols…  Maple Tree  Very meaningful role in dev’t of Canada  Commercial, environmental, and aesthetic importance to all Canadians  Valuable wood products  Maple-sugar industry  Natural beauty associated with Canada  1996 –recognized as Canada’s arboreal emblem

More symbols  The Great Seal of Canada  Used on all state documents  Proclamations and commissions of cabinet ministers, senators, judges, and senior gov’t officials  Image of Queen Elizabeth II; a new seal will be struck for her predecessor

 National Flag of Canada  Inaugurated on parliament Hill in Ottawa on February 15, 1965  “The flag is a symbol of the nation’s unity, for it, beyond any doubt, represents all the citizens of Canada without distinction of race, language, belief, or opinion.” ~ Honourable Maurice Bourget (Speaker of the Senate)

 The Royal Canadian Mounted Police  Originated in 1873 as the North West Mounted Police  Objective: to bring “law, order, and Canadian authority” to the North West Territories (present day Alberta and Saskatchewan)

Symbolic People…  Terry Fox  raised awareness of cancer  Wayne Gretzky  decent hockey player  Tommy Douglas  Medicare; greatest Canadian

Money, money, money… MONEY!!  $5 Children at Play - children playing hockey outdoors (Sir Wilfrid Laurier on the front)  $10 Remembrance and Peacekeeping - veterans, children and peacekeepers paying tribute (Sir John A. Macdonald on the front)  $20 Arts and Culture - the artwork of renowned Canadian artist Bill Reid (Queen Elizabeth II on the front)  $50 Nation Building - the accomplishments of the Famous Five and Thérèse Casgrain (William Lyon Mackenzie King on the front)  $100 Exploring and Innovating - historic and satellite maps of Canada (Sir Robert Borden on the front)

Coins