The centrepiece of the new flag is the stylized O design, sometimes referred to as a toilet flush. It is meant to be simple, but look festive. When flying, the feeling of vibrant motion is apparent.

The design uses the blue and green colours chosen to represent the new City of Ottawa. The blue is symbolic of rivers and waterways that are part of the Ottawa region. The large green areas speak to the large green space and quality of life in the area. It was adopted January 1, 2000 following the creation of the Ottawa megacity.

Previously the Ottawa flag had been a purple, red and blue tricolour. This flag was adopted by the city in 1901 and when it was replaced it was the oldest municipal flag in Canada. The three colours were intended to represent purple for the monarchy, red for the Liberals, and blue for the Tories. The flag was not popular, however, with few liking its appearance. It also violated rules of heraldry by placing colour next to colour. In 1987, in an attempt to spruce it up, the city's coat of arms was added to the centre. There was little controversy when the transition board decided the new city should get a new flag.

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Visual Identity Program