- The Governor General of Canada
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Acadia University
Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Grant of Arms
January 20, 2017
Vol. VI, p. 663
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Blazon
Arms
Per pale Azure and Gules two Nova Scotia woodsman’s axes in saltire between in chief and in base a wolf’s head and in each flank an open book Argent;
Motto
IN PULVERE VINCES;
Symbolism
Arms
Blue and red are the colours of the university. The axes pay tribute to the early settlers and university founders who cleared the woodlands to build the university. They also refer to the university sports teams, the “Axemen and Axewomen”. The books identify the university as a place of intellectual discipline and work. The wolves’ heads are a pun on the location of the university in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.
Motto
This Latin phrase means “In dust you will win”, and reflects the benefits of hard work.