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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

Arms of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador
Arms of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador Arms of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador

Arms of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador

Blazon

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;

Symbolism

The crowned lions and unicorns have been the supporters of the Royal Arms of England and Scotland since 1603.

Crest of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador

Blazon

An elk passant proper;

Symbolism

The “elk” represents the wildlife of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Motto of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador

Blazon

QUÆRITE PRIME REGNUM DEI;

Symbolism

Meaning “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God”, this Latin phrase is taken from Matthew 6:33.

Supporters of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador

Blazon

Two Indigenous persons armed and apparelled for war standing on a grassy mount proper;

Symbolism

These represent Newfoundland’s Indigenous Beothuk people.
Flag of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador Flag of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador

Flag of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador

Blazon

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

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.
Letters patent registering the heraldic emblems of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador Letters patent registering the heraldic emblems of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador

Additional Information