- The Governor General of Canada
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The Corporation of the City of Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Grant of Arms and Supporters, with a Badge and Flag for use by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service
March 20, 2015
Vol. VI, p. 493
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Blazon
Arms
Azure two chevronels Argent between two square flaunches rompu Or, in chief a whitefish naiant, in base a lily Argent;
Crest
The Clergue Block House proper;
Supporters
Two eastern wolves proper each supporting a hand crucible shafted Or and standing on a mount of pine branches and maple leaves issuant from waves proper;
Motto
OJIBWE GCHI GAMI ODENA;
Symbolism
Arms
Blue, white and yellow are the colours of the city. The side segments and chevrons evoke the historic locks of the Sault Ste. Marie Canal. The centre section also resembles the cross section of a steel girder, thus alluding to the steel industry that was an important part of the city’s history. The whitefish is a species found in great numbers in the St. Marys rapids. The lily is a symbol of St. Mary and thus alludes to the city’s name; it also pays tribute to the city’s French heritage.
Crest
The Clergue Block House is a distinctive local historic structure. Originally a fur trade structure used by the Northwest Company, it was acquired and expanded by Francis Clergue, an American industrialist who developed the city’s industrial base in the 1890s.
Supporters
The eastern or timber wolf is a powerful local animal known for its gregariousness. The crucibles, held by long shafts, are tools used by steelworkers to gather molten steel; as such, they provide another reference to the city’s steel industry heritage. The base marks the significance of the local forestry industry, and the white-capped waves make a reference to the St. Marys rapids. The maple leaves indicate the city’s identity as a Canadian border municipality, their gold colour alluding to those in the coat of arms of Ontario.
Motto
This Ojibwe phrase, meaning “Settlement near the Ojibwe’s big lake”, was used with slightly different spelling in the original arms of the city.