Arms of the University of Prince Edward Island

Blazon

Per chevron Gules and Vert, in dexter chief a pair of blacksmith’s tongs Argent between two hammers Or hafted Argent enfiling an annulus Or set with a cross patté Sable, in sinister chief three feathers Argent enfiling a coronet of crosses patté and fleurs-de-lis Or, and in base an open book Argent edged and bound Or;

Symbolism

The red and green colours are those of the university. The book emphasizes its role as a place of higher learning. The two elements at the top of the shield represent the two institutions that came together to form the University of Prince Edward Island: St. Dunstan’s University and Prince of Wales College. St. Dunstan, the patron of Charlottetown, is also the patron of blacksmiths, and one of his attributes is the blacksmith’s tongs, which appeared on the emblem of St. Dunstan’s University and, with a blacksmith’s hammer, in the previous emblem of the University of Prince Edward Island. Here they appear with a ring, a bishop’s symbol of authority (St. Dunstan was Archbishop of Canterbury). The coronet with the three feathers is the badge of the heir apparent, who is generally also given the title Prince of Wales. It had been used as the emblem of Prince of Wales College, and its use here is by special permission of HRH The Prince of Wales.