<P> By this time, the maple leaf had been adopted as an emblem by the French Canadians along the Saint Lawrence River . </P> <P> Its popularity with French Canadians continued and was reinforced when, at the inaugural meeting of the Société Saint - Jean - Baptiste in 1834, the maple leaf was one of numerous emblems proposed to represent the society . Speaking in its favour, Jacques Viger, the first mayor of Montreal, described the maple as "the king of our forest;...the symbol of the Canadian people ." </P> <P> The maple leaf slowly caught on as a national symbol: in 1868, it was included in the coat of arms of both Ontario and Quebec, and was added to the Canadian coat of arms in 1921 . Historically, the golden maple leaf had represented Ontario, while the green maple leaf had represented Quebec . In 1867, Alexander Muir composed the patriotic "The Maple Leaf Forever", which became an unofficial anthem in English - speaking Canada . From 1876 until 1901, the leaf appeared on all Canadian coins, and remained on the penny after 1901 . During the First World War, badges of the Canadian Expeditionary Force were often based on a maple leaf design . The use of the maple leaf as a regimental symbol extended back to the 1800s, and Canadian soldiers in the Second Boer War were distinguished by a maple leaf on their sun helmets . </P>

Who discovered the important food properties of the maple leaf