British Columbia

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BRITISH COLUMBIA

Official blazon

Arms: Argent three bars wavy Azure issuant from the base over all a demi sun in splendour Or a chief of the Royal Union Flag charged in the centre with an antique crown Or
Crest: The Royal Crest of the United Kingdom of Her Late Majesty Queen Victoria [Upon a Royal Crown proper a lion statant guardant Or royally crowned proper] differenced for Her Majesty and Her Sucessors reigning in right of British Columbia with the Lion thereof garlanded about the neck with Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttalli) flowers with leaves all Proper
Supporters: On the dexter side a Wapiti stag (Cervus canadensis) proper and on the sinister side a Bighorn Sheep ram (Ovis canadensis) Argent armed and unguled Or, both above Pacific Dogwood flowers slipped and leaved proper
Motto: SPLENDOUR SINE OCCASU

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on March 31, 1906 (UK grant) and registered on April 17, 1990 (Canadian register).

The chief at the top of the shield is a Royal Union Flag (commonly known as Union Jack) with an antique gold crown in its centre, symbolizing the province's origin as a British colony. Below the chief, on a ground of blue and silver wavy bars representing the Pacific Ocean, a gold half-sun signifies British Columbia's location as the most westerly province of Canada.

Below the shield a scroll is inscribed with a motto meaning "Splendor without diminishment."