January 21, 1948, and it has flown there ever since. Motto The motto, Je me souviens ("I remember"), was devised by the architect of Quebec's Parliament Building, Eugène-Étienne Taché, in 1883. He carved it into the Parliament building in various locations. Je me souviens is an official part of the coat of arms and has been the official licence plate motto since 1978, replacing the previous one: La belle province ("the beautiful province"). Other symbols Three new official symbols were adopted in the late 1900s: Blue flag iris, the floral emblem of Quebec since 1999. It was chosen because it blooms around the time of Quebec's Fête nationale. The snowy owl, the avian emblem of Quebec since 1987. It was selected by the Québécois government to symbolize Quebec's winters and northern climate. The yellow birch, the tree emblem of Quebec since 1993. It was picked to emphasize the importance Québécois give to the forests. The tree is admired for its diverse uses, its commercial value and its autumn colours. List Here is a non-exhaustive list of Quebec's symbols: References Quebec Symbols Canadian provincial and territorial symbols