- 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.
District of Matsqui
Matsqui, British Columbia
Registration of Arms and Badge
February 15, 2024
Vol. VIII, p. 258
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Vert goutté d’eau, on a fess wavy Argent between in chief two winged wheels and in base a beehive kiln Or, two bars wavy Azure surmounted by a grenade Sable fired between two strawberry sprigs leaved and fructed proper;
Crest
A thunderbird displayed head to the sinister proper;
Badge
A thunderbird as in the Crest within a wreath of daffodils slipped and leaved proper;
Symbolism
Arms
The green background represents the agricultural lands of the region, and the white drops the dairy industry. The wavy stripes refer to the Fraser River. The grenade is the emblem of the Royal Engineers, retired members of which were among the district’s early settlers. The strawberry plants are an important crop of the Fraser Valley. The wheels allude to the fact that Matsqui is a Salish word for “meeting of trails,” and their wings represent Abbotsford airport. The kiln refers to the Clayburn brickworks, the municipality’s first industry.
Crest
The thunderbird honours the first inhabitants of the area, the Coast Salish. Here, it is in the artistic style and typical colouring of the Kwakwaka'wakw, a nation to the north of the Matsqui territory.
Badge
The thunderbird repeats the symbolism of the Crest. The daffodils are a well-known feature of the Bradner neighbourhood in the municipality.
Background
Canada Gazette Information
The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on January 1, 1900, in Volume 0, page 0 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Original concept of the College of Arms, London.
Painter
Artist of the College of Arms, London / Artiste du Collège d’armes, Londres
Calligrapher
* Not applicable / Sans objet
Recipient Information
Civil Institution
Government
The recipient’s emblems were originally recorded at the College of Arms, London, England, 10 March 1967.