Royal Heraldry Society of Canada.

[Marcus Karlsson]

Armorial Bearings of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada.

[Cameron Campbell]

Just a curiosity question; Can anyone use the maple leaf as a charge in Canada, or is it's use restricted?

[Iain Boyd]

Dear Cameron,

Anyone can use the maple leaf in Canada just as anyone can use the thistle in Scotland and the rose in England.

However, I believe that previous Lords Lyon have restricted the use of the thistle on occasions.

All three are regarded as the country's plant badge and, as such, can be used by anyone.

However, like anything, they can be overused!

Regards,

Iain Boyd

[Chris Green]

and the rose in England

Hmmm ... Not sure if the College of Arms would acquiesce in the use of the Tudor Rose (red and white rose united slipped and leaved proper) which is the royal badge for England. There are of course many other sorts of rose (tinctures, with stalk, natural, etc) which are not associated with the Royal Family.

[V Beswick-Escanlar]

Dear Cameron,

Anyone can use the maple leaf in Canada just as anyone can use the thistle in Scotland and the rose in England.
...
However, like anything, they can be overused!

Regards,

Iain Boyd

The CHA in its Personal Design Guide sent to prospective armigers does try to steer petitioners away from the maple leaf nowadays:

• Maple leaf: This has often been used to indicate Canadian identity, so much so that it has become commonplace. There are many ways of indicating Canada through distinctive animals, plants, birds, etc., and there are also other innovative ways of using the maple leaf. In general, the maple leaf (especially a red leaf on white) is best limited to arms of organizations that are national in scope.

[Ryan Shuflin]

If Canada used the same rules traditionally for royal symbols as in other nations, than the red maple leaf would not be restricted, but the flag would. The charge on the Canadian Royal Arms is three maple leaves on one stem. This does not appear to be restricted, nor does a Lion passant guardant Or on a field Gules(aka a Lion of England) although the later was limited in England to use as an augmentation of honor.

[V Beswick-Escanlar]

If Canada used the same rules traditionally for royal symbols as in other nations, than the red maple leaf would not be restricted, but the flag would. The charge on the Canadian Royal Arms is three maple leaves on one stem. This does not appear to be restricted

My impression is that the red maple leaf is not restricted, but it is encouraged to use a symbol other than that alone. There are some examples of a red maple leaf alone used as a charge, e.g.:

Peter Prescott, 1998



Jacques Thouin, 2002



but more recent grants tend to use a red maple leaf only as a smaller element, e.g.:

Thomas Hickey, 2004



Alan Hudson, 2005



Conjoined red maple leaves also exist and seem unrestricted, e.g. William Letovsky, 1996:



Except for four maples leaves conjoined, which is the mark of a Prime Minister, e.g. Charles Joseph (Joe) Clark, 1994:



As you said I don't think using the flag itself would be permitted, but one way to make reference to it is to replicate the unique proportions of the Canadian pale, e.g. Robert MacDonald, 2003:



Incidentally, using the arms of Canada in personal arms would also not be permitted I think, but one neat reference to it is to use the divisions and field colours uncharged, e.g. John Pope, 2001:



Here, an uncharged shield with the divisions and field colours of the arms of Canada are used in the crest, a tribute to the armiger's grandfather, who was responsible for the design of the arms of Canada in 1921.

[JMcMillan]

If Canada used the same rules traditionally for royal symbols as in other nations, than the red maple leaf would not be restricted, but the flag would. The charge on the Canadian Royal Arms is three maple leaves on one stem. This does not appear to be restricted, nor does a Lion passant guardant Or on a field Gules(aka a Lion of England) although the later was limited in England to use as an augmentation of honor.

"In other nations" is a broad way of putting it. Lord Lyon these days generally won't grant anything with "azure a saltire argent" except to an institution of national stature, and a grant of arms containing the royal tressure has required royal permission for centuries.

[Charles Veale]

It's not restricted. However, it becomes a little redundant if everyone had one, and would kind of defeat the purpose.