The Varsity Blues are the intercollegiate athletics program of the University of Toronto, competing in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and U SPORTS. The program’s official colours are blue and white, and its mascot is named “True Blue.”[1]
Design and History
The Varsity Blues athletic mark is known as the “TLeaf,” a combination of the letter “T” and a maple leaf. The Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE) and the university’s Trademark Licensing office hold exclusive use of the TLeaf mark for Varsity Blues Intercollegiate Athletics, Active Healthy Living programming and retail operations.[2] The mark is also commonly referred to simply as the “T leaf” in university communications.[3]
The University of Toronto’s official colour is Pantone 655 (dark blue), which anchors the broader Sport & Recreation colour palette.[4] The Varsity Blues program lists its colours as blue and white,[1] and the Ontario University Athletics member directory describes them as navy blue and white.[5]
The “Varsity Blues” name itself has been protected as a Canadian trademark by the Governing Council of the University of Toronto, with a filing dating to September 1988.[6]
Typography and Design
While no official documentation describes the specific typography used within the TLeaf mark itself, the university’s visual identity guidelines designate Trade Gothic as the official typeface for the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, which administers Varsity Blues athletics. Bembo serves as a secondary font for body text only.[4]
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