The Toronto Argonauts, a Canadian Football League team founded in 1873, unveiled a modernized version of their classic “boat” logo as their primary mark in November 2020. The redesign brought back an emblem last used full-time from 1976 to 1988, replacing the single “A” shield that had served as the primary logo in recent decades. The team announced the change with a video featuring crashing waves, and the boat logo now appears on helmets and around BMO Field. [1] [2] [3]
Design and History
The boat has been a recurring element in Argonauts logos since the team’s founding in 1873, when the club was established by the Argonaut Rowing Club. The original boat logo was used from 1976 to 1988 and is considered one of the most popular logos among fans and players. The team won the 1983 Grey Cup while wearing it. After 1988, the boat was removed in favor of a single “A,” which appeared in the team’s next three logo changes, often housed by a shield. [1] [2] [4]
The 2020 redesign is described by the team as “a modern refresh combining Cambridge Blue and Oxford Blue, the colourway synonymous with Toronto Argonauts football.” The shield logo was retained as a secondary mark for selective use. [2] [4]
Meaning and Symbolism
The boat in the logo symbolizes the club’s beginning as the Argonaut Rowing Club. The team’s press release also states that the logo “exemplifies the team’s Pull Together mantra as each oar works in unison propelling the boat forward.” [4] [2]
The “Double Blue” color scheme of Cambridge Blue and Oxford Blue has been synonymous with Toronto Argonauts football. The team’s 2023 uniform unveiling noted that the traditional color scheme is “made up of Cambridge and Oxford blues,” with the palette nodding to the early 1960s through heavy use of Cambridge Blue and white. [5] [6]
In September 2024, the team unveiled a special edition logo designed in partnership with Anishnaabe artist Emily Kewageshig. The design reimagines the iconic boat logo “through the representative lens of the Indigenous community” to honour the resiliency, strength and enduring spirits of Indigenous peoples. [7]
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