The first coat of arms of Montreal and the motto "Concordia Salus" were adopted on July 19, 1833 as proposed by Viger, incorporating the emblems of the main ethnic groups in the city.

The rose represented England, the thistle referred to Scotland, the clover corresponded to Ireland, and the beaver, the French Canadians; this latter was replaced by the fleur de lys in 1938.

On October 2, 1851, that chain was passed on to Mayor Charles Wilson at a ceremony presided over by Lord Elgin, Governor General of Canada.

[4] In 2012 councillor Jane Cowell-Poitras became acting mayor of the city following the resignation of Gérald Tremblay following allegations from the Charbonneau Commission.

[4] As Tremblay's resignation occurred less than a year before the 2013 municipal election, his formal successor Michael Applebaum was chosen by the latter method, in a vote which took place on November 16.