Artifact Type: Poster
Title: Metric Commission A4 Poster
Year: 1974
Designer: Stuart Ash
Studio: Gottschalk+Ash
Client: Statistics Canada, Government of Canada
Size: 297mm X 210mm
Condition: Fine
Collection: Canada Modern Archive
Donation: Kindly gifted by Stuart Ash / Entro Communications
The Metric Commission was a Government agency established in 1971 to facilitate Canada’s conversion to the metric system, first introduced by the Liberal federal government of Pierre Trudeau.
This simple, bold poster (using the A series of paper sizes — International Standard ISO 216) was distributed across Canada to promote and raise awareness of metrication in Canada.
The Metric Commission symbol (TM1) can also be viewed and studied within the Canada Modern Trademark entries.
Copy on the poster reads:
A stylized M and maple leaf symbolize metric conversion in Canada. Properly applied by organizations in all sectors of the economy, it identifies metric materials, supplies, publications and products. The growing use of this symbol will mark Canada’s adoption of the simplest most advanced measurement system the International System of Units.
Le M et la feuille d’érable stylisés symbolisent la conversion au système métrique au Canada. Presénté d’une façon appropriée par des organismes de tous les secteurs de l’économie, ce symbole permettra l’identification métrique du matériel, des fournitures, des produits et des publications. L’utilisation croissante de ce symbole marquera l’adhésion du Canada à un système metrique de mesure simple, universel et des plus perfectionné — le Système International d’Unités
