What does the coat of arms of Canada represent?

The Canadian coat of arms represents the sovereignty of Canada and the country's founding peoples through a layered design granted by King George V on November 21, 1921. The shield in the centre carries five emblems: the three royal lions of England, the rampant lion of Scotland, the harp of Tara representing Ireland, the three fleurs-de-lys of royal France, and three red maple leaves on a white field representing Canada. Together they signal that the country was founded by the union of English, Scottish, Irish, and French peoples on land long inhabited by Indigenous nations.

Above the shield rests St. Edward's Crown, the symbol of the King's authority in Canada. Around it sits a wreath, and rising above is a crowned lion holding a red maple leaf in its right paw, signalling Canadian sovereignty under the Crown. The shield is supported by the lion of England holding the Royal Union Flag and the unicorn of Scotland holding the Royal Banner of France, the two pre-Confederation imperial flags of the country.

The compartment beneath the supporters contains a wreath of the four founding peoples' floral emblems: the rose of England, the thistle of Scotland, the shamrock of Ireland, and the lily of France. The lower scroll bears the national motto 'A Mari Usque Ad Mare' meaning 'From Sea to Sea'. The upper scroll, added in 1994, carries the motto of the Order of Canada, 'Desiderantes Meliorem Patriam' or 'They desire a better country', drawn from Hebrews 11:16.

The arms appear on the cover of the Canadian passport, on government cheques and documents, on the Mace of the House of Commons, on the rank insignia of senior judges, and on diplomatic credentials. They represent the federal Crown and the country together rather than any individual government of the day.