Adopted 13 December 2002 | Supporters Two Silver Foxes | |
Armiger Elizabeth II in Right of Prince Edward Island Crest On grassy mount a blue jay wearing a Royal Crown and holding in its beak a sprig of red oak. Helmet Golden helmet has mantling and a wreath in red and white Escutcheon Lion and large oak tree on the right and three young saplings on the left. | ||
Heraldry is the art and study dealing with symbols that identify individuals, corporations, and various institutions. Heraldry can trace its origins to when there was a need to more easily identify knights and individuals on the battlefield. These distinctive identifying devices and symbols were used on shields, banners, and other appropriate places. Its usage spread to not only knights and individuals but to, among others, corporate and civic bodies. These symbols are called armorial bearings and follow rules guiding its design.
Contents
What is popularly known as a coat of arms actually refers to what is properly called a heraldic achievement. The main component of a heraldic achievement is the shield of arms; Other embellishments such as a crest, supporters, mottoes, and compartments are optional.
The coat of arms of Prince Edward Island has its origins in 1905 when the shield and motto in the achievement were granted by royal warrant of King Edward VII. Additional augmentations to the arms were made in 2002.
History
In the chief of the shield is the lion passant (or "leopard") of England. The lower portion depicts three oak saplings, representing the Island's three counties, beneath a mature oak that originally represented Great Britain. Prior to the adoption of the current coat of arms, the trees were used, without the lion, as the symbol of the province.
The additions to the arms were granted on 26 April 2002, and the process was completed on 13 December 2002, when the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, unveiled the crest, supporters, and compartment, after which the full achievement was taken into official use. This was requested by Prince Edward Island Premier Pat Binns to commemorate the 150th anniversary of responsible government on the island.
Symbolism
The crest is a blue jay holding in its beak a sprig of red oak, both symbols of the island. The crown represents royal sovereignty and its use in the arms is an honour granted by the Queen.
The supporters are silver foxes, rare animals native to the region; fur farming was perfected on Prince Edward Island, and Island silver fox fur was prized. The fox also represents sagacity and wit. To denote other Island industries, one fox wears a garland of potato blossoms, and another one wears a length of fishing net.
The compartment centres on a Mi'kmaq eight-pointed star symbol representing the sun; this is surrounded by roses for England, lilies for France, thistles for Scotland, and shamrocks for Ireland, as well as Lady's Slippers, the floral emblem of the island.
The island's motto, Parva sub ingenti (the small under the protection of the great), is taken from Virgil's Georgics. The full quotation is:
...etiam Parnasia laurus parva sub ingenti matris se subicit umbra.' ...so too a small plant, beneath its mother's mighty shade, upshoots the laurel-tree of Parnassus.It has been the island's motto since 1769.
Blazon
The shield was blazoned by Royal Warrant on 30 May 1905, as:
Argent on an island Vert, to the sinister an oak tree fructed, to the dexter thereof three oak saplings sprouting all proper, on a chief Gules a lion passant guardant Or.The warrant also specified the motto Parva sub ingenti.
This was augmented by proclamation, recorded in the PEI Royal Gazette, 21 December 2002, with the following:
A HELMET: Or mantled Gules doubled Argent with a wreath of these colours; AND FOR A CREST: On a grassy mount a blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) reguardant crowned with the Royal Crown and bearing in its beak a leaf of the red oak tree (Quercus rubra L.) fructed proper; AND FOR SUPPORTERS: Two foxes (Vulpes fulva) Sable embellished Argent, that to the dexter gorged with a collar of potato blossoms proper, that to the sinister gorged with a length of fishnet Argent, both on a mount Vert set with a Mi'kmaq star Azure between lady's slipper flowers (Cypripedium acaule), red roses, thistles, shamrocks and white lilies proper.