Laureates of the Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts receive a bronze medallion produced by the Royal Canadian Mint along with their $25,000 award. The medallion bears the emblem of a maple tree flanked by two crowned lion’s heads. The maple is the symbol used to represent the Canada Council for the Arts. The lions represent the vice-regal emblem of the Governor General; their crowns represent Canada; and their number, the two disciplines recognized by the award. The motto “Excellentiae in artibus causa” [for excellence in the arts] adorns the face of the medallion, while the name Canada Council for the Arts is engraved on the edge.