Celebrating Canada and its official wordmark

Canada Day, celebrated annually on July 1, is a national holiday marking the anniversary of Confederation which occurred on July 1, 1867 and united Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada (which at that time included Ontario and Quebec) into the Dominion of Canada. Over time, more provinces and territories joined and eventually led to the Canada we know today. The holiday is marked by festivities across the country, including community events, concerts, and a national ceremony in Ottawa, all celebrating the virtues of Canada.

A key part of Canada’s national identity is its official symbols, many of which are protected under the Trademarks Act as prohibited marks, also known as Official Marks.  One of the most well-known and ubiquitous of these marks is the iconic Canada logo (shown below), which was designed in the early 1960s by an Ottawa designer, Jim Donahue, as explained in a recent article in the Ottawa Citizen. 

The logo was officially adopted in 1982, the same year Canada Day received its current name. Today, the Canada logo is protected, in both black and white and colour versions, as a prohibited mark under section 9(1)(iii) of the Trademarks Act, and is prominently visible on federal buildings, and in government communications, and even Canadian technology abroad, such as the Canadarm on the International Space Station.   

While Official Marks remain an obstacle for many brand owners, even with the recently adopted tool made for challenging them (as explained in our recent article), the official logo of Canada stands as an enduring symbol of the country and is a source of national pride.  

The Canada wordmark is ubiquitous in Ottawa. For decades, the logo has been emblazoned on federal buildings and signs, making the presence of the government felt throughout downtown. And its reach has been far beyond the National Capital Region, as it has bookended government television commercials, become a symbol of Canada abroad, and even made its way into space on the Canadarm of the International Space Station.

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