- The Governor General of Canada
The contents of this Register are intended for research purposes only. The heraldic emblems found in the Register may not be reproduced in any form or in any media without the written consent of the Canadian Heraldic Authority and/or the recipient.
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT Polytechnic)
Calgary, Alberta
Grant of Arms, Supporters, Flag and Badge
August 20, 2009
Vol. V, p. 465
[ previous page ]
Blazon
Arms
Per pale Gules and Azure, a lightning bolt Argent grasped in base by two winged hands affronty and clasping each other Or;
Crest
A wolf sejant affronty its head to the dexter proper resting its forepaws on an open book Argent bound Gules;
Supporters
Two dragons Gules winged Or their undersides Azure, each gorged of a coronet of hazelnuts and wild rose flowers Or, holding a teepee pole Or and standing on a compartment of sandstone blocks proper;
Motto
INCIPIO ET ERUDIO;
Symbolism
Arms
The lightning flash represents the electrical energy produced by a dynamo, which is a symbol of technology in a broad sense. It also represents the energy applied by students. The wings symbolize the flights of practical imagination and elevated mind that turn ideas into results.
Crest
The wreath is composed of the school colours of red and blue. The open book calls students to come and learn, and represents past accomplishments and unwritten future. The wolf in aboriginal symbolism characterizes a teacher.
Supporters
The winged dragon is an emblem of both the knowledge to be acquired and of alchemy, the process of changing base metal into valued gold or, more broadly, making a miraculous transformation. The coronets containing the floral symbol of wisdom, the hazelnut, symbolize the idea of wisdom taming ignorance, represented here by the dragon. In the school colours, the dragons allude to Heritage Hall, the building that features dragons as an architectural display and which has housed so many programmes in the history of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. In addition, the wings recall the one-time use of the school building by the Royal Canadian Air Force, as well as the raptors that fly over the campus daily. The staff represents a pole used to erect a teepee, as well as the lodgepole pine emblem of Alberta. The sandstone evokes the foundation upon which the students build their knowledge and skills to make their place in society.
Motto
Meaning “I take in hand and educate,” this evokes not only a school’s viewpoint towards students, but also students’ responsibility towards themselves.