- 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.
Town of Gananoque
Gananoque, Ontario
Grant of Arms, Supporters, and Flag
October 11, 2000
Vol. IV, p. 56
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Vert a fess wavy bezanté conjoined with a pallet wavy in chief, both Azure fimbriated Argent, a canton of the Union flag of 1707;
Crest
Issuant from a Loyalist civil coronet Or a sprig of two maple leaves Vert;
Supporters
On a grassy mound Vert, dexter a First Nations woman of the region, sinister a Loyalist woman, both tempore 1784 proper;
Motto
PAX VOBISCUM;
Flag
A banner of the Arms;
Symbolism
Arms
The colour green indicates the verdant lands around the town. The large horizontal stripe refers to the St. Lawrence River, and the smaller vertical stripe refers to the Gananoque Creek. The gold discs indicate that the Thousand Islands are nearby. The canton of the Royal Union flag of 1707 indicates that the town was settled by the Loyalists, who identified strongly with this flag.
Crest
The coronet is a Loyalist civil coronet, granted to person and municipalities with significant Loyalist ties, and, as such, it further commemorates Gananoque as a Loyalist foundation. The two maple leaves above it are green, consistent with the way this Canadian symbol was usually depicted at the time of the Town’s incorporation in 1890. The fact that there are two maple leaves on the sprig makes a reference to the close ties of geography and friendship the Town enjoys with neighbouring New York, whose official State tree is also the sugar maple.
Supporters
The supporters allude to the early history of the area. The First Nations’ woman indicates not only the Mohawk Loyalist settlers, but also the Mississauga people who lived in the area for centuries before. The woman on the viewer’s right represents the Loyalists of European background who settled in Gananoque following the American Revolution.
Motto
This means “Peace be with you.”
Flag
The symbolism of this emblem is found in other element(s) of this record.
Background
Canada Gazette Information
The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on March 24, 2001, in Volume 135, page 938 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Original concept of John Matheson and Bruce Patterson, Saguenay Herald, assisted by the Heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority
Painter
Gordon Macpherson
Calligrapher
Suzzann Wright
Recipient Information
Civil Institution
Regional, Municipal etc Government