A logo is usually the first thing people see of an organization, long before they read a page or book a call. When we redesigned ours, we wanted it to say what Canada Talents does: we help newcomers and skilled immigrants build a career in Canada, in English or in French, and we help employers recruit bilingual talent and integrate new hires. The people we work with come from every background and bring very different skills and experience, and the logo had to hold all of that.
Inspired by Douglas Coupland
The design draws on the work of Douglas Coupland, the Vancouver artist and novelist whose work keeps asking what Canadian identity is. Two pieces guided us: Brilliant Information Overload Pop Head (2010) and his Harris Maligne Lake, Sampson-Matthews Variant, one of a series in which he reworks classic Canadian landscape paintings with bold blocks of colour. We liked how they take something familiar about Canada and make room for new readings of it.
What Each Element Means
The colours stand for diversity: the many cultures and experiences that come together in one country, and the four elements of air, water, fire and earth. The circle stands for unity. No two people's paths to Canada are the same, but the circle holds them together.
The clear typeface reflects how we want to work: direct, practical and focused on the person in front of us.
The maple leaf is the symbol of the national flag. For us it is also a reminder to honour the relationship that Indigenous Nations have with this land as its original caretakers, and to acknowledge the historical and ongoing injustices that Indigenous Peoples and other communities face in Canada. Welcoming newcomers to this country includes learning that history.
The Work Behind the Logo
A logo only matters if the work behind it does. If you want to see how we got here, read 10 lessons from 10 years at Canada Talents. If you are new to Canada and want to talk about your own career plans, book a 15-minute consultation with our team.
For press inquiries, write to us at media@canada-talents.ca.
