Maple leaf
{{Short description|Leaf of the maple tree; national symbol of Canada}}
{{about|the maple leaf as a symbol|the hockey team|Toronto Maple Leafs|other uses}}
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The maple leaf is the characteristic leaf of the maple tree. It is most widely recognized as the national symbol of Canada.{{cite web |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/unofficial-symbols-canada.html |title=Unofficial symbols of Canada |publisher=Department of Canadian Heritage |access-date=2019-01-01}}
History of use in Canada
By the early 1700s, the maple leaf had been adopted as an emblem by the French Canadians along the Saint Lawrence River.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fraser.cc/FlagsCan/Nation/NatSym.html#r10|title=National Symbols|website=www.fraser.cc}}
Its popularity with French Canadians continued and was reinforced when, at the inaugural meeting of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society in 1834,[http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/sc-cs/o3_e.cfm Ceremonial and Canadian Symbols Promotion page for Maple Leaf] the maple leaf was one of numerous emblems proposed to represent the society. Speaking in its favour, Jacques Viger, the first mayor of Montreal, described the maple as "the king of our forest; ... the symbol of the Canadian people."
File:Royal Standard of Canada.svg, showing a sprig of three maple leaves as part of the design]]
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg, featuring one stylized maple leaf in the centre]]
The maple leaf slowly caught on as a national symbol. In 1868, it was included in the coat of arms of Ontario and the coat of arms of Quebec, and was added to the Canadian coat of arms in 1921. Historically, the golden maple leaf had represented Ontario, while the green maple leaf had represented Quebec.[http://www.onzone.ca/english/ontario/symbols/shield.asp Shield of Arms] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207232357/http://www.onzone.ca/english/ontario/symbols/shield.asp |date=2009-12-07 }} In 1867, Alexander Muir composed the patriotic song "The Maple Leaf Forever", which became an unofficial anthem in English-speaking Canada.{{Cite news|author=Mike Strobel|title=Should we drop O Canada and revert to Maple Leaf Forever?|url=https://torontosun.com/2013/10/07/should-we-drop-o-canada-and-revert-to-maple-leaf-forever|access-date=2020-10-13|newspaper=Toronto Sun|language=en-CA}} From 1876 until 1901, the leaf appeared on all Canadian coins, and remained on the penny after 1901.{{Cite web|author=Robert Sibley|title=A short history of the Maple Leaf flag|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/a-short-history-of-the-maple-leaf-flag|access-date=2020-10-13|website=Ottawa Citizen|language=en-CA}} The use of the maple leaf as a regimental symbol extended from the 1890s, and Canadian soldiers in the Second Boer War were distinguished by a maple leaf on their sun helmets.{{Cite web|title=WarMuseum.ca - South African War - The Canadian Uniform|url=https://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/boer/canadianuniforms_e.html|access-date=2020-10-13|website=www.warmuseum.ca|publisher=War Museum|language=en}} During the First World War, badges of the Canadian Expeditionary Force were often based on a maple leaf design.{{Cite web|title=General List Cap Badge|url=https://www.warmuseum.ca/s3/supplyline/assets/teacherresources/CWM_SupplyLine_GeneralListCapBadge_EN_FINAL_20140922.pdf|access-date=2020-10-13|publisher=War Museum}} In 1957, the maple leaf colour on the Canadian arms was changed from green to red{{Cite web|date=2017-08-28|title=The history of the National Flag of Canada|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/flag-canada-history.html|access-date=2020-10-13|website=aem}} – some maple leaves are commonly red even in spring as they bud and no seasonal colouring has been assigned heraldically.
The maple leaf became the central national symbol with the introduction of the Canadian flag (suggested by George F. G. Stanley and sponsored by {{abbr|MP|member of parliament}} John Matheson) in 1965, which uses a highly stylized eleven-pointed maple leaf, referring to no specific species of maple. Earlier official uses of a maple leaf design often used more than 30 points and a short stem. The one chosen is a generic maple leaf representing the ten species of maple tree native to Canada – at least one of these species grows natively in every province.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mapleleavesforever.com/default.asp|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125220137/http://www.mapleleavesforever.com/default.asp|url-status=dead|title=Maple Leaves Forever|archivedate=Nov 25, 2009}} The maple leaf is used on the Canadian flag and by the Federal Government as a personification and identifier on its websites, as part of the government's wordmark.
The maple leaf is also used in logos of various Canadian-based companies (including Canadian subsidiaries of foreign companies and small local businesses) and the logos of Canadian sports teams. Examples include Air Canada,{{Cite web|title=Trademarks|url=https://www.aircanada.com/ch/en/aco/home/legal/trademarks.html|access-date=2020-10-13|website=www.aircanada.com|publisher=Air Canada|language=en-CH}} General Motors Canada, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets National Hockey League (NHL) franchises, the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise, and the Toronto FC Major League Soccer (MLS) club. Several national chains (e.g. McDonald's Canada, Wendy's Canada) use the maple leaf in place of a possessive apostrophe in their company logo, in order to have consistent branding across the country while complying with Quebec's Official Language Act (as the French language does not use this punctuation).
The maple leaf is considered a certification mark on product labels in Canada, equivalent to "Product of Canada" which requires 98% of the total direct costs of the product to be incurred in Canada.{{cite book|first=Gary|last=Gnirss|title=Made in Canada, Eh?|work=Food in Vancouver|volume=67|issue=7|publisher=Glacier Media|location=Vancouver, British Columbia|date=September 2007|page=24|id={{ProQuest|224329565}} |issn=1188-9187}}
Since 1979, the Royal Canadian Mint has produced gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bullion coins, which are officially known as Maple Leafs, as geometric maple leaves are stamped on them.{{Cite web|title=Gold Maple Leaf Bullion Coins {{!}} The Royal Canadian Mint|url=https://www.mint.ca/store/content/bullionProductDetails.jsp?itemId=prod1630042&cat=Products&nId=7400002&parentnId=1300002&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint|access-date=2020-10-13|website=www.mint.ca|archive-date=2020-11-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106151059/https://www.mint.ca/store/content/bullionProductDetails.jsp?itemId=prod1630042&cat=Products&nId=7400002&parentnId=1300002&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title=Silver Maple Leaf Bullion Coin {{!}} The Royal Canadian Mint|url=https://www.mint.ca/store/content/bullionProductDetails.jsp?itemId=prod1630032&cat=Products&nId=7400002&parentnId=1300002&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint|access-date=2020-10-13|website=www.mint.ca}}{{Cite web|title=Platinum Maple Leaf Bullion Coin {{!}} The Royal Canadian Mint|url=https://www.mint.ca/store/content/bullionProductDetails.jsp?itemId=prod1660006&cat=Products&nId=7400002&parentnId=1300002&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint|access-date=2020-10-13|website=www.mint.ca|archive-date=2020-11-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106055424/https://www.mint.ca/store/content/bullionProductDetails.jsp?itemId=prod1660006&cat=Products&nId=7400002&parentnId=1300002&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title=Palladium Maple Leaf Coin {{!}} The Royal Canadian Mint|url=https://www.mint.ca/store/content/bullionProductDetails.jsp?itemId=prod2500601&cat=Products&nId=7400002&parentnId=1300002&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint|access-date=2020-10-13|website=www.mint.ca|archive-date=2020-10-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014002814/https://www.mint.ca/store/content/bullionProductDetails.jsp?itemId=prod2500601&cat=Products&nId=7400002&parentnId=1300002&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint|url-status=dead}} The Trans Canada Highway uses a green maple leaf.
Other uses
File:Chehalis Washington The Maple Leaf City.jpg, tributaries, and area railroads as forming the shape of a maple leaf]]
The Italian city of Campobasso was known as "Canada City" or in a minor way "Maple Leaf City", since during the Second World War, Canadian troops invaded the city and freed it from the Germans.{{Cite book|last=Goddard, Lance.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/163697491|title=Hell & high water : Canada and the Italian campaign|date=2007|publisher=Dundurn Group|isbn=978-1-55002-728-0|location=Toronto|page=75|oclc=163697491}} Moreover, the city has a huge variety of maples which can be found even in the streets.
The U.S. city of Carthage, Missouri, is nicknamed "America's Maple Leaf City."{{cite web |url=https://www.legendsofamerica.com/mo-carthage/ |title=Carthage, Missouri – America's Maple Leaf City |access-date=December 27, 2020 |last= |first= |date= |work=Legends of America |publisher= |location= |language= |quote= }}
The city of Chehalis, Washington, was known as "The Maple-Leaf City".{{cite web|title=The Evergreen State Souvenir by J.O. Hestwood, Chicago: W.B. Conkey Co., 1893, p.38|url=http://access.bl.uk/item/pdf/lsidyv37008fd3|access-date=2020-10-13|archive-date=2018-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203170716/http://access.bl.uk/item/pdf/lsidyv37008fd3|url-status=dead}}
The mascot of Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana, is the Maple Leaf and the nickname for Goshen College sports teams is the Maple Leafs.{{Cite web|url=https://goleafs.net/|title=Goshen College - Official Athletics Website|website=Goshen College}}
It is usually taken as one of the featured symbols on the emblem of the Pakistani province of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, which is not correct. The actual featured symbol is a Chinar leaf, with Chinar being the Persian/Turkish/Urdu name for the Oriental Plane (Platanus orientalis), a large broad leaved deciduous tree.
In Estonia and Lithuania, inexperienced drivers are obliged to have a green maple leaf sign visible on the vehicle, serving a similar function that a P-plate does in some other countries.{{cite web|title=Liikluseeskiri|url=http://www.riigiteataja.ee/ert/act.jsp?id=13305765|work=Elektrooniline Riigi Teataja|publisher=Government of Estonia|access-date=9 July 2010|location=Estonia|language=et|date=25 April 2010}}{{cite web|title=Road traffic rules|url=http://www.regitra.lt/uploads/documents/2013_Eng_KET.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903045651/http://www.regitra.lt/uploads/documents/2013_Eng_KET.pdf|archive-date=2013-09-03}}
The maple leaf was also featured on the coat of arms of Sammatti, Finland.
References
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