Hamilton (Ontario)

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HAMILTON

Province : Ontario
Additions: 2001 Ancaster, Dundas, Flamborough, Glanbrook, Hamilton-Wentworth (regional municipality), Stoney Creek

Official blazon

Arms: Or a hurt charged with a cinquefoil Or and encircled by a chain of six large links each joined to the next by three small links Azure
Crest: Issuant from a mural coronet its upper rim set with towers and garbs Or, a maple leaf each lobe parted Or and Gules
Supporters: Dexter a stag Or sinister a tiger Or striped Sable each gorged with a Loyalist civil coronet Azure and standing on a grassy mound Vert set on limestone proper above barry wavy Argent Azure and Argent
Motto: TOGETHER ASPIRE - TOGETHER ACHIEVE

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on July 15, 2003.

The cinquefoil is taken from the arms of the Chief of Clan Hamilton, and it thus refers to the City's namesake. The chain represents the steel industry, and the six large links refer to the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth, which was comprised of the six municipalities that were brought together to form the new City (the cities of Hamilton and Stoney Creek, the towns of Ancaster, Dundas, and Flamborough and the Township of Glanbrook). Blue and gold have long been the City's official colours.

The coronet indicates that Hamilton is a municipality with both urban and rural components, and the maple leaf indicates that it is a Canadian community. This maple leaf has been made particular to Hamilton through its distinctive colouring.

The stag represents a link with the arms of the old City and the rural part of the City, the Dundas Valley. The tiger refers to "Tiger Town", a sobriquet by which the City has been long known. The Loyalist coronets refer to the Loyalists who were founders of the earliest communities in what became the City. The grass symbolizes the lands of the City with the limestone and stylized water representing two of the most predominant geographic features of its setting, the Niagara Escarpment and Hamilton Harbour.

The motto was suggested by the City Council to convey the idea of citizens working together.

The former arms are shown below. These arms were officially granted on December 20, 1962

Unfortunately we have no information on the meaning or origin of these arms yet.

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