Canadian North Logo PNG
Canadian North’s logo looks like a friendly nod to its neighbor to the north. It’s not bragging; it’s just showing you it knows its way around snowy fields and icy waters. With this logo, the airline makes you feel like you’ll be cared for even in Canada’s coldest and most remote corners. Like that friend who always has a spare scarf or some hot cocoa, this logo makes you feel like you’re in safe and knowledgeable hands.
Canadian North: Brand overview
Canadian North, once known as Bradley Air Services, has been a beacon of innovation and leadership in the airline industry since it first spread its wings in 1989. Based in Kanata, Ontario, Canada, the airline stands out among its global partners as one of the few indigenous Inuit-owned airlines.
Max Ward laid the foundation for Bradley Air Services in 1957. Initially, the company was a charter airline serving isolated mining and exploration sites in Canada’s northern expanses. In 1986, the business turned around when Ward sold the company to his employees. In 1990, the Makivik Inuit Corporation of Nunavik, Quebec, acquired a 50% stake in the company, signaling the beginning of a new development phase.
An important milestone in the history of Canadian aviation came in 1998 when Bradley Air Services and First Air, another Inuit airline, merged to create Canadian North. This merger strengthened the airline’s presence in the North and made it a strong player in Arctic transportation.
Today, the airline operates scheduled passenger and cargo service to more than 20 destinations in the Canadian North, using a modern fleet that includes the latest Boeing 737-200 and 737-300 aircraft.
Meaning and History
What is Canadian North?
Headquartered in Kanata, Ontario, Canadian North, a wholly Inuit-owned airline, plays an important role in connecting remote communities in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Nunavik region of Quebec, as well as maintaining routes to southern destinations such as Edmonton, Montreal, and Ottawa. Founded as Bradley Air Services, the organization has a rich history of dedicated service to the Canadian aviation industry. Known for its concern for the community, the airline has been a lifeline for residents in Canada’s most remote regions, providing regular connections to essential services.
1989 – 2001
Canadian North, operating from 1989 to 2001 as a subsidiary of Canadian Airlines International, adopted the parent company’s logo, rich in symbolism and national spirit. The central element of this emblem was the trumpeter swan, the largest waterfowl in North America, known for its beauty and grace.
The logo depicts the swan’s silhouette in a smooth, tranquil flight, symbolizing grace and elegance. This bird was chosen because it serves as a model for the company’s airplanes, reflecting endurance, reliability, and the ability to make long-distance flights. The visual representation of the swan in flight aligns with the airline’s mission to provide safe and comfortable flights across the vast territories of Canada.
The red “Canadian Airlines” text in the logo has a special highlight: the third letter ‘a’ is stylized to resemble an airplane. This element emphasizes the company’s innovative approach and commitment to technical excellence. The red font symbolizes speed and a passion for travel while referencing the national colors of Canada, underscoring the company’s affiliation with the country.
A blue outline surrounding the swan’s figure adds depth and complexity to the composition. It symbolizes technical excellence and references the cold climate of Canada’s northern regions served by the airline.
2003 – 2019
With the company name change, its emblem was completely transformed, now filled with deep symbols reflecting the northern regions’ uniqueness and cultural heritage. The new logo evokes immediate associations with the endless snowy expanses of the north, bringing a sense of cold, freedom, and pristine nature to the company’s visual identity.
The central elements of the new visual identity include three symbols: the polar bear, the northern lights, and the polar sun. The polar bear in the logo symbolizes strength and resilience, which are associated with the reliability of air transportation. The northern lights add a mystical and colorful touch, highlighting the magic of travel to remote parts of the world. The polar sun, a rare and striking phenomenon, symbolizes the uniqueness and distinction of the services offered by the company. These elements were chosen deliberately, as the company actively targets the Inuit—the indigenous people of northern Canada—for whom these symbols hold deep cultural and historical significance.
The new company slogan, “seriously northern,” placed below the name in cool blue shades, strengthens this connection to the northern territories. The large letters of the slogan harmoniously combine with the blue border around each image, enhancing the brand’s sense of unity and coherence.
This positioning ensures a harmonious and coherent perception of the brand. However, it leads to a significant drawback: elements directly associated with aviation have almost disappeared from the emblem. Only the silhouette of the northern lights, reminiscent of a bird in its curves, remains the sole link to air transportation. This may make immediate recognition of the company as an airline challenging, especially for new customers who may not be familiar with its history and roots.
2019 – today
The Canadian North Airline logo features a gray figure of an Inuit, an indigenous person from remote regions of North America, which gives the emblem its uniqueness. The figure is abstract, his arms wide as if embracing the vastness around him. To the right of the figure is the name of the airline. The text is smooth and slightly italicized. Geometric glyphs are carved from ice but colored red, which gives the emblem a lively energy. The top line is typed in uppercase font, and below is text in a thinner lowercase font.
Using the Inuit figure uniquely positions the airline, perhaps reflecting its focus on serving remote and northern regions. The choice of red for the glyphs adds vibrancy and dynamism, contrasting with the gray. Combining uppercase and lowercase fonts gives the impression of authority and accessibility.
