Official symbols: Design Standard for the Federal Identity Program

The Government of Canada uses 3 official symbols (see Figure 1) to communicate its identity:

• the Canada wordmark
• the flag symbol
• the arms of Canada

Figure 1. The 3 official symbols of the Government of Canada (from left to right: Canada wordmark, flag symbol, arms of Canada)

Get a copy of the official symbols

To obtain a copy of the official symbols, contact your department’s coordinator.

On this page

• Canada wordmark
• Flag symbol
• Arms of Canada
• Legal protection of the official symbols
• Creating and using other symbols and logos

Canada wordmark

The Canada wordmark is the global identifier of the Government of Canada.

The Canada wordmark appears with a corporate signature, in all fields of application.

Canada wordmark design

The Canada wordmark is composed of:

• the word “Canada” in a graphically modified version of the Baskerville typeface (see Figure 2)
• the flag symbol

The Canada wordmark can only be reproduced using the digital master file. Figure 3 shows the distinctive elements of the wordmark.

Figure 2. Canada wordmark: correct and incorrect versions

Figure 3. Distinctive elements of the Canada wordmark

Animated Canada wordmark

The animated version of the Canada wordmark may be used in certain government communications products, for example, videos.

When used, the animated wordmark must always appear in its static form as the final image and must be either:

• in black type with the FIP red flag symbol on a white background or
• in white type with the FIP red flag symbol on a black background (recommended for large scale formats, such as television and cinema advertising)

For details on how and when to use the animated wordmark, see Video ads and Videos.

To obtain a copy of the digital master file of the animated Canada wordmark, contact your department’s FIP coordinator.

Figure 4. The 2 versions of the animated Canada wordmark

Arms of Canada

The arms of Canada is used to identify the following officials and departments:

• ministers and their offices
• parliamentary secretaries
• ambassadors
• heads of consulates or missions
• Clerk of the Privy Council
• departments:
  • whose heads report directly to Parliament
  • that have a quasi-judicial function

  Arms of Canada design

  The stylized black version of the arms of Canada (see Figure 6) is used in corporate signatures and ministerial signatures. The full-colour version of the arms of Canada must not be used in signatures.

  Figure 6. Stylized black version of the arms of Canada

  

  Legal protection of the official symbols

  The official symbols, including all design and colour variations, are legally protected against unauthorized use in Canada and abroad under:

  • Trademarks Act, subsection 9(1) (Prohibited marks)
  • Copyright Act
  • Article 6ter of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property

  Creating and using other symbols and logos

  • In this section
    • Other Government of Canada logos
    • Non-Government of Canada logos
    • Icons of social media providers

    This section explains how to create and use logos and symbols other than the official symbols of the Government of Canada.

    Other Government of Canada logos

    Treasury Board approval is required to:

    • add an identifying symbol to a department’s corporate identity
    • replace a department’s official symbols

    In each instance, a Treasury Board submission is required. For more information, see Rules on the use of logos.

    Non-Government of Canada logos

    When Government of Canada communications products are part of a formal partnering or sponsorship arrangement with external organizations, the logo of each organization can be displayed. Details on using the logos are covered in the terms and conditions of the agreement.

    Icons of social media providers

    Social media icons can be used when linking to an official social media account or when promoting it. For details, see Using social media icons.