The coat of arms of Ontario is the armorial emblem representing the Canadian province of Ontario. The arms contain symbols reflecting Ontario's British heritage, along with local symbols. At the upper part of the shield is the red cross of St. George, representing England. The lower portion of the shield features three golden maple leaves on a green background.
The original arms, consisting of only the shield, were granted by royal warrant of Queen Victoria on 26 May 1868. The arms were further augmented with supporters, a crest and a motto, by royal warrant of King Edward VII on 27 February 1909.
The shield, on a Red Ensign, features in the provincial flag of Ontario.
History
The year following Confederation, arms were granted by royal warrant from Queen Victoria on 26 May 1868 That arms was then also used in the first Canadian Red Ensign, which was flown at the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
The supporters, crest, and motto, designed by Toronto barrister Edward Marion Chadwick, were added on 27 February 1909, by warrant of King Edward VII. To that point, the assembly had used the coat of arms of the Government of Ontario. The petition was granted and the new coat of arms was presented by then Governor-General Ramon Hnatyshyn at a ceremony in the Legislative Chamber on 26 April 1993. Ontario's is the first legislature in Canada with a coat of arms separate from the provincial coat of arms.
Symbolism
thumb|right|The coat of arms of the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]
Crest
:The crest has a green griffin holding a gold calumet.
:The griffin is an ancient symbol of justice and equity. The calumet symbolizes the meeting of spirit and discussion that Ontario's first peoples believe accompanies the use of the pipe.
Coronet
:The coronet on the wreath represents national and provincial loyalties. Its rim is studded with the provincial gemstone (amethyst), and the coronet is topped with three red maple leaves (symbolizing Canada) and two white trilliums (the flower of Ontario).
Shield
:The shield of arms consists of two crossed maces, joined by the shield of arms of Ontario, on a field of green with a gold rim.
:The mace is the traditional symbol of the authority of the Speaker. Shown on the left is the current mace. On the right is the original from the time of the first parliament in 1792.
Supporters
:A white-tailed doe (dexter) and a white-tailed stag (sinister),