Restoring History: The Journey of Ottawa's Armorial Seal

The City of Ottawa's Armorial Seal, designed in 1855 by George Hay, was based on the city's first device of arms and carved for the City Hall in 1877. This stone relief, made from local limestone, was used until 1931 and later moved to various city work yards. In 2011, the City of Ottawa Archives received the seal, and professional conservators restored it. The seal, now displayed at the James Bartleman Centre, features symbols representing Ottawa's timber trade, industry, and transportation, among others. Despite its historical significance, it was never registered as a formal coat of arms due to non-compliance with heraldic rules. It is currently on display in the lobby at the City of Ottawa Archives, James K. Bartleman Centre, 100 Tallwood Drive (Corner of Woodroffe).