- The Governor General of Canada
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Corporation of the City of Kingston
Kingston, Ontario
Grant of Arms, Supporters, Flag and Badge
January 11, 1999
Vol. III, p. 349
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Gules a Martello tower Argent upon barry wavy of five Argent and Azure in chief three Eastern crowns Or;
Crest
Rising above barry wavy of three Argent Azure and Argent a rock proper thereon a beaver statant Or;
Supporters
Dexter a griffin sinister a lion Or each gorged with a collar of maple leaves Gules;
Motto
ANTIQUITATE CIVILITATE HUMANITATE. This Latin phrase means "With antiquity, civility, humanity".
Flag
A banner Gules charged in base barry wavy of three Argent Azure and Argent set thereon dexter a Martello tower Argent in sinister chief three Eastern crowns two and one Or;
Badge
A torteau charged with a Martello tower Argent within a circle of maple leaves Or;
Symbolism
Arms
The Martello Tower represents the four such towers built as military fortifications along Kingston’s harbour in the 1840s, thus referring to the city’s military heritage. The crowns allude to the city’s name (“King’s town”) and represent the three municipalities (the City of Kingston, Kingston Township and Pittsburgh Township) that amalgamated in 1998 to form the current city. The waves represent the confluence of Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River and the Cataraqui River/Rideau Canal system.
Crest
The beaver, found on the city’s seal dating from 1853, symbolizes the importance of the fur trade at the time of Fort Cataraqui, founded in 1673 by the Comte de Frontenac, Governor of New France. The rock refers to Cataraqui, derived from the Mohawk word katarokwi, meaning “a place where there is clay or limestone.” The rock also alludes to the city’s limestone fortifications and buildings.
Supporters
The griffin alludes to the griffin claws on the arms of the Comte de Frontenac, thus referring to the French heritage of Kingston. The lion, used as a supporter for the city’s 1899 arms, refers to its British heritage. As one of the supporters of the Royal Arms of Canada, it refers to Kingston’s status as the capital of the province of Canada from 1841 to 1844. The maple leaves represent Canada.
Motto
This Latin phrase, literally meaning “Through the ages with civility and humanity,” has been in use by the City for several decades, with the translation “A civil and creative community with a proud past.”
Flag
The symbolism of this emblem is found in other element(s) of this record.
Badge
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 July 22, 2000, in Volume 134, page 2262 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Original concept of the Ad Hoc Committee for Kingston's New Coat of Arms, assisted by the heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
Painter
Eva Pilar-Cass
Calligrapher
Suzzann Wright
Recipient Information
Civil Institution
Regional, Municipal etc Government