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Canadian Civic Heraldry

SOOKE

Province : British Columbia

Origin/meaning :
The arms were officially granted on September 16, 2002.

The axes and salmon refer to the historical importance that the industries of forestry and fishing have had in Sooke. Red and gold are the colours of Spain and hence allude to the first European contact. The gold can also refer to the wealth derived from Sooke's traditional industries, as well as to the Leech River gold rush. The diagonal division of the shield makes an allusion to the flag of Scotland and thus to Captain Grant, the first European settler.

The canoe honours the T'Sou-ke Nation, while the sun refers to the sunset over the ocean as well as the sun in the flag of British Columbia. The camas was an important flower to the First Nations, and the broom is a Scottish plant, again referring to Captain Grant.

The compartment is a visual representation of the theme "Where the rainforest meets the sea." The cougar and deer are important native animals. Each collar identifies Sooke as being a Canadian municipality in British Columbia. The pendent crosses are of England and Scotland, representing Sooke's British settlers, while the fleur-de-lis refers to French Canadian settlers.

A shortened version of "Where the rainforest meets the sea," a description of Sooke's geography forms the motto.

Literature : Image and information from here.

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