Arthur Szyk chose to display the heritage of Canada as a heraldic collage. These armorial representations of Canada's provinces give pictorial credit to various European ancestries as well as the natural features of Canada.
The arms of Canada which dominate the upper center show Canada's British origins by means of the blazons of Scotland, England and Ireland, the lion and unicorn, and the Imperial crown. Significantly the French heritage of Canada is illustrated by the traditional fleur de lis. The English rose, Scottish thistle and Irish shamrock are also presented.
Moving counter clockwise from the upper left, the arms of Prince Edward Island are followed by those of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Quebec (lower center), New Brunswick, Ontario, Alberta, and finally Nova Scotia at upper right. Intertwined within these are portraits of James, who led the British forces in conquest of French forces defending Quebec, led by the Marquis de Montcalm. Both generals died on the Plains of Abraham battlefield 12 September 1759, in that conflict.
The two recurring "stars" of Canadian history, the North-West Mounted policeman and the native Indian, are prominently displayed at center bottom of the print. They are flanked by the beaver, a longtime symbol of Canadian economic and national development. The maple leaf, the traditional symbol of Canada, is portrayed as a supporting sprig, seen both in the arms of Quebec (bottom center) and of Canada (upper center). The maple leaf conveys the unity of all the diverse elements presented in the painting.
