Collège Ahuntsic, a public francophone CEGEP in Montreal’s Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough, was one of the 12 original colleges created in 1967 when Quebec’s CEGEP system was established [1]. Its visual identity has evolved through two documented phases: a 2013 institutional refresh and a 2021 redesign of its sports team identity.
Design and History
In March 2013, after 45 years of existence, the college adopted a new institutional logotype in red and black. The refresh followed a five-year process of research, consultations and analysis of best practices in educational institutions and corporations. The new logo was designed to reflect the institution’s image as young, modern and dynamic, and it ensured continuity with the design the college had been using in its publications since 2008 [2].
The college’s sports teams, known as the Indiens since the institution’s founding in 1967, used a logo depicting an Indigenous warrior wearing a feathered headdress [3]. In October 2019, the college announced it would abandon the name and logo as part of a broader indigenization process [4]. Following a vote among student-athletes and committee members, the teams were renamed Les Aigles in April 2020 [5].
The new sports logo was unveiled on February 18, 2021. It was designed by Maxime Jenniss, an Indigenous graphic designer [6].
Meaning and Symbolism
The 2021 Aigles logo shows the letter A of Ahuntsic topped by an eagle’s head. According to the college’s official description, the eagle is solidly anchored on its territory and is simultaneously in a position of ascent and dive, two important movements in sport. The bird’s gaze is directed backward to recall the past of the sports teams as the Indiens since the college’s founding in 1967. The eagle is placed within a circle, a symbol important to Indigenous Nations, evoking community, group and strength [7].
The choice of the eagle itself carries meaning: for many peoples, the eagle is the king of birds, an infinitely powerful figure with a piercing gaze, embodying courage and acuity [5].
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