Halifax (Nova Scotia)

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HALIFAX

Province : Nova Scotia

Regional Municipality

Official blazon

Arms: Azure a saltire Or and a bezant merged thereon a Kingfisher between four broad arrows points outward Azure in fess two sailing vessels tempore 1760 flags flying to the dexter Or
Crest: On a mural coronet Or issuant therefrom a sprig of mayflower of four blossoms proper
Supporters: On a grassy mound Vert set dexter with garbs Or and sinister with spruce trees Vert between barry wavy Azure and Argent dexter a seahorse Or gorged with a circlet set with maple leaves Vert pendant therefrom an open book Argent bound Azure holding between its legs a staff Argent flying therefrom the banner of the Province of Nova Scotia proper sinister a like seahorse similarly gorged pendant therefrom two paddles in saltire Azure holding between its legs a staff Argent flying therefrom the banner of Halifax Regional Municipality proper
Motto: E MARI MERCES

Origin/meaning

The arms were not officially granted on November 10, 1998.

The golden cross is a St. Andrew's cross, which is taken from the arms of Scotland and refers to the fact that the city is tha capital of Nova Scotia, but also to the many inhabitants of Scottish descent. As the new council of Halifax was formed from four previous authorities, the cross also could symbolise these four authorities (city of Halifax, city of Dartmouth, county of Halifax and town of Bedford).

The ships are taken as a dymbol for Dartmouth, the arrows for Bedford. The kingfisher is the old symbol for Halifax itself. The blue colour and the ships also stand for the sea and the maritime connections. The crest shows a sprig of mayflower with four branches, one for each of the authorities. The mayflower was also part of the old arms. The compartment shows the island of Nova Scotia with forests and wheatsheaves as a symbol for agriculture. The two (heraldic) sea horses are an appropritae symbol for the municipality's maritime heritage. They hold the banners of Nova Scotia and the city. They wear a maple-leaf coronet as a symbol of Canada and a book for the advanced educational institutes in the city and two Micmac paddles as a symbol for the native people and early settlers.

The motto is E Mari Merces, or Weath from the Sea and was taken from the old arms of the city.

City of Halifax

Official blazon

Arms: Azure a Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) Or
Crest: Issuant from a mural coronet of five merlons Or masoned Sable a sprig of mayflower (Epigaea repens) proper
Supporters: On a grassy mound dexter a fisherman holding a codfish by its head with his dexter hand sinister a naval rating both habited circa 1860 all proper
Motto: E MARI MERCES

Origin/meaning

The previous arms were granted on October 28, 1994.

The old arms show a kingfisher as a symbol of industry. The mayflower as a typical flower is used as a crest. The supporters are a local fisherman and a navy sailor.