Logo and Visibility Standards

Logo

Meaning

The emblem, which takes its inspiration from the city’s coat of arms, represents a flower whose four petals form the letters V and M, the initials for “Ville de Montréal.” The intersecting lines at the centre of the logo symbolize the city’s vocation as a crossroads of communication and civilization.

Finally, the four hearts created by the lines represent Montrealers’ attachment to their city. An undulating line encircles the whole, representing the island, while its shape, at once plant-like and aquatic, expresses the richness of Montréal’s natural environment and the care Montrealers take to preserve it.
 

History

• 1981: Montréal’s logotype and the accompanying visual identification program were adopted, and the mandate to create them was awarded to the graphic design firm Georges Huel et Associés Inc.

• June 17, 2003: City council approved a recommendation to give the city a new visual identity. Simple, clear and uncluttered, the 2003 concept was in fact an updated version of the logotype created by the graphic design firm Georges Huel et Associés Inc. in 1981.

• Drawing on the notoriety of the rosette, the 21st century version uses the name “Montréal” rather than “Ville de Montréal.”

• The rosette is thus preserved and placed to the right of the word “Montréal,” following the same rationale as the governments of Québec and Canada, whose names appear alone (without the word “government”) and with a visual element placed to the right.
   

Coat of arms

Meaning

• The traditional French shield recalls the origins of the city.

• The red cross against the white background recalls the Christian thought and principles which governed the founders of Ville-Marie.

• The lily, the rose, the thistle and the clover symbolize France, England, Scotland and Ireland, respectively, the places of origin of Montrealers in the last century. The white pine stands for the original native presence in Montréal.

• The maple leaves symbolize the quest for harmony between all Montrealers.

The beaver represents the industriousness and patience of Montrealers.

 

History

• July 19, 1833: Adoption of the first coat of arms by the city councillors at the time, under the leadership of Jacques Viger, Montréal’s first mayor. At the same time, the city adopted the motto that is still in use today: Concordia Salus (salvation through harmony).

• March 21, 1938: Modification of the coat of arms by Conrad Archambault, Montréal’s chief archivist.

• September 13, 2017: Addition of white to the coat of arms to symbolize Indigenous Peoples.
   

Addition of the white pine

On September 13, 2017, the day of celebration of the United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the year marking Montréal’s 375th anniversary, the white pine was added to the emblems on the coat of arms. The white pine symbolizes Indigenous Peoples and represents peace and harmony.

Montréal’s new coat of arms now reflects the five peoples at the origin of our city’s founding and development: The First Nations, the French, the English, the Scottish and the Irish.

Visibility Standards

Use of Montréal’s logo

The Montréal logo (or logotype) is an institutional signature, the symbol of the municipal administration. Only the city, its paramunicipal organizations and project partners may use it.

If you are an organization and wish to use the logo, please send a request to [email protected].

Visibility protocol

Visibility protocol - Entente sur le développement culturel de Montréal

Use of Montréal’s Coat of arms

The city’s coat of arms is a symbolic emblem. It is used only for formal or official functions or events held by the mayor’s office, on the stationery of municipal court judges, on the city seal and for certain formal declarations. No other uses are permitted.