The flags, emblems, anthems, sports, and honours that represent Canada.
Flag and emblems
- Maple Leaf flag raised for the first time on February 15, 1965 — National Flag of Canada Day.
- The Canadian Crown is the symbol of our parliamentary democracy.
- The Royal Coat of Arms features the symbols of the founding peoples: English rose, Scottish thistle, Irish shamrock, and French fleurs-de-lys, plus maple leaves.
- National motto: 'A mari usque ad mare' (From sea to sea).
- The beaver became an emblem through the fur trade; it appears on the Canadian five-cent coin.
- The maple tree is the national tree; the maple leaf is the central national symbol.
Anthems
- 'O Canada' is the national anthem — music by Calixa Lavallée; French lyrics by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier (1880); English lyrics adapted by Robert Stanley Weir (1908).
- Proclaimed as Canada's national anthem in 1980.
- 'God Save the Queen' (or King) is the royal anthem.
Honours
- The Victoria Cross (V.C.) is the highest honour available to Canadians, for conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy.
- The Order of Canada, created in 1967, honours outstanding lifetime achievement.
- Other honours include the Order of Military Merit and the Star of Courage.
Remembrance and sports
- Remembrance Day — November 11 — honours those who served and died in wars up to the present day.
- The poppy is the symbol of remembrance.
- Hockey is Canada's national winter sport; lacrosse is the national summer sport (Hockey and Lacrosse Acts).
- Other Canadian-invented sports include basketball (Dr. James Naismith, 1891) and five-pin bowling.