Since Canada's earliest days, most important documents have been made official through The Great Seal of Canada’s imprint. The land grants received by the early homesteaders from the Dominion Government all have The Great Seal of Canada on them.

History

The Great Seal has both ceremonial and administrative purposes. Today, it is used on federal documents, such as Royal proclamations and commissions issued for the appointment of government ministers, lieutenant governors, senators and judges. The presence of the Seal melds together the notions of authenticity and authority, and lends a certain prestige to the grants.

During colonization, seals were an important part of how governments operated because they signified the power and authority of the Crown flowing from the sovereign to the colony’s established government. The monarchs of France and Britain used them on official documents in the Canadian colonies of New France and British North America.

The seal is impressed directly on a document, or on an adhesive paper wafer affixed to the document, or on a separate piece of paper attached to the document by a ribbon. In the same way, individuals and organizations affixed their own seals to letters and documents in order to prevent tampering or ensure authenticity. Today, lawyers and corporations still use seals to certify legal documents and official certificates. Click here to learn how ISC uses seals today.

Learn about past Canadian seals used by monarchs.