The Northwest Territories’ polar-bear shaped license plate is hailed as iconic, beloved, unique, and desirable by collectors. Steven Silver, a long-time fan, vividly recalls encountering the plate for the first time at the age of 12 in 1970. Determined to own one, he eventually acquired a used plate from the N.W.T. government, treasuring it as a prized possession.
Another passionate collector, Sam Bova, has focused on amassing N.W.T. and Nunavut license plates for over 30 years, boasting a collection of approximately 1,300 N.W.T. plates. The distinct shape of these plates has captivated collectors like Bova, with the addiction to collecting only growing stronger over time.
While a typical modern N.W.T. license plate holds a value of about $30, rare ones can fetch close to $1,000. The polar bear-shaped plate was introduced in January 1970 to commemorate the territory’s centennial, with Stuart Hodgson, the then-commissioner, credited for the concept behind the design.
The license plate’s polar bear logo, created by Helmut Seager from the ad agency Baker Lovick, was aimed at promoting the Northwest Territories. Following its introduction, the unique plate quickly became a target for theft, with a batch stolen in Inuvik shortly after its launch.
Amid the transition to a separate territory in 1999, Nunavut retained the polar bear plate design, although it later adopted a rectangular plate featuring a polar bear under the northern lights. In 2025, Nunavut unveiled its own polar bear design, distinct from the N.W.T. version.
The N.W.T. polar bear plate garnered widespread acclaim, being named the 1970 plate of the year by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. Recognized as the most iconic license plate design globally, it continues to captivate both collectors and enthusiasts due to its unparalleled uniqueness.
American license plate enthusiast Ethan Craft highlights the universal appeal of the N.W.T. polar bear plates, which spark curiosity and admiration among individuals worldwide. Craft emphasizes the exceptional nature of these plates, making them highly coveted in the realm of license plate collections globally.