Arms of William Douglas Shead
Arms of William Douglas Shead
Blazon
Per pale Argent and Gules dexter a heart Gules ensigned by a naval coronet Azure sinister two eagle feathers proper conjoined in chevron reversed, a base barry wavy per pale Gules and Argent and Argent and Azure;
Symbolism
The naval coronet marks Mr. Shead’s service in the Royal Canadian Navy, in which he held the rank of Lieutenant-Commander, while the heart, found at the centre of the arms of Selkirk, Manitoba, marks his service as Mayor of that municipality. The eagle feathers refer to the two branches of his Cree heritage through his father Harry Shead and mother Ruth Asham. The feathers are also significant as a reference to Mr. Shead’s wider service to the Indigenous community. The use of red and white, the national colours of Canada, represents his service to the nation. The wavy bars in red stand for the Red River and the original site of the St. Peter’s Band of Cree and Ojibway Peoples, to which Mr. Shead’s ancestors belonged. The blue and white bars represent the Fisher River where the St. Peter’s Band relocated and was renamed the Peguis Band. This water symbolism serves as a further reference to Mr. Shead’s naval service.
Crest of William Douglas Shead
Blazon
A snowy owl rising Argent beaked armed and embellished Or gorged with a ducal coronet Gules;
Symbolism
The owl is an indication of the traditional and ongoing regard of First Nations for the land and its creatures. Its migratory pattern from northern to southern Manitoba can allude to the migration paths of Mr. Shead’s ancestors. The coronet, which is found in the arms of Nottingham, in England, makes a reference to Mr. Shead’s grandfather, Frank Brisco Shead, who came from there.
Motto of William Douglas Shead
Blazon
PEYATTAKI-AYAWIN;
Symbolism
The Cree phrase means “Live peacefully”.
