- 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.
Province of Newfoundland and Labrador
St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Registration of Arms, Supporters and a Flag
November 15, 2010
Vol. VI, p. 9
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Gules a cross Argent between in the first and fourth quarters a lion passant guardant wearing the Royal Crown Or and in the second and third quarters a unicorn passant Argent armed, crined, unguled and gorged with a coronet of crosses patté and fleurs-de-lis to which is attached a chain passing between its forelegs and reflexed over its back Or;
Crest
An elk passant proper;
Supporters
Two Indigenous persons armed and apparelled for war standing on a grassy mount proper;
Motto
QUÆRITE PRIME REGNUM DEI;
Flag
Argent in hoist four gyrons Azure, in fly an arrow symbol contourné fesswise Or fimbriated Gules between two gyrons Gules voided of the field their points to the sinister;
Symbolism
Arms
The crowned lions and unicorns have been the supporters of the Royal Arms of England and Scotland since 1603.
Crest
The “elk” represents the wildlife of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Supporters
These represent Newfoundland’s Indigenous Beothuk people.
Motto
Meaning “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God”, this Latin phrase is taken from Matthew 6:33.
Flag
White symbolizes snow and ice, blue the sea, red human effort, and gold the confidence people of the province have in themselves. The blue triangles evoke the design of the Royal Union Flag, used as the provincial flag prior to 1980. The gold arrow points to a bright future. The red triangles represent the mainland and island parts of the province. Together with the arrow, they form the image of a trident, symbolic of the sea and a reference to the importance of fishing to the province.
Background
Canada Gazette Information
The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on November 12, 2011, in Volume 145, page 3514 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Original concepts of the heralds of the College of Arms, London, (Arms) and Christopher Pratt (Flag).
Painter
Artist of the College of Arms, London / Artiste du Collège d’armes, Londres
Calligrapher
* Not applicable / Sans objet
Recipient Information
Civil Institution
Provincial & Territorial (General)
The arms were recorded in the records of the College of Arms, London, 1 January 1637 (Julian Calendar).
The flag was adopted pursuant to the Provincial Flag Act (S.N. 1980, c. 5), assented on 28 May 1980.