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When the design team were considering ideas for a games mascot, it was unanimously decided that the beaver was the best representation for Canada. Münich had Waldi, a dachshund and a popular breed of German dog and Montréal wanted to follow a similar approach. “No animal has played a greater role in the development of a country than the beaver in Canada”, said COJO President Roger Rousseau at a press conference in Toronto on 25 September 1974. Amik is the indigenous word of the Algonquian language for Beaver.

It was the role of Pierre-Yves Pelletier, deputy to Georges Huel, to bring Amik to life. In the finalization of the completed design, Yvon Laroche and Guy Saint Arnaud also contributed a little and hence their credit. Amik was never intended to be a ‘cartoon of a beaver’, instead it was important to preserve the dignity and spirit of the animal. In this version of Amik (he also came with a singular red sash with the symbol of the Games) he wears a rainbow of ribbons. “We chose the colours of the rainbow because these colours were attractive, they were alive, they were youthful and they were dynamic. And I believe we succeeded in our decision” said Pierre-Yves Pelletier.

Posters played an important role in the image the Olympic Games and the Graphics and Design Directorate of COJO (Montréal Olympic Organizing Committee) developed two main series of posters — 8 ‘thematic designs’ and 21 ‘sports’ designs, each part of the program of the games.

See more official Montréal Olympics posters

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