Guelph

GUELPH

Province : Ontario

Official blazon

Arms: Argent on a fess Gules cotised Vert between three ancient crowns Gules a horse courant Argent
Crest: Within an ancient crown Gules a mount Vert thereon a lion statant Or anciently crowned Gules resting the dexter forepaw upon the haft of an axe head downwards and inwards proper
Supporters: Upon a grassy mount with on the dexter side in front of a copse a felled tree trunk lying to the dexter in the stock an axe proper in front of the same a man with a hat open shirted in breeches and boots proper vested of a tail coat cut away Gules sinister a female figure proper vested Argent cloaked Azure wearing a helmet Or crested Gules supporting with her dexter arm a trident points upward Sable and holding by the sinister hand a cornucopia proper
Motto: FAITH · FIDELITY · PROGRESS

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on May 8, 1978 (UK grant) and recorded on November 20, 1993 (Canadian register).

The arms were initially designed in 1879, but properly blasoned and granted one century later. The silver horse is taken from the arms of the Kingdom of Hannover where the Guelph royal connections go back 1,000 years. The crowns on the arms as well as the British royal lion on the crest, symbolise Guelph's link with the British Royal family.

The lion in the crest holds an axe, symbolising the importance of forestry in the history of the city.

The supporters are on the left side an axeman standing beside a tree stump, representing John Galt's ceremonial felling of a mighty tree to create Guelph. On the right side a female with gown, helmet and shield, represented Guelph's links with the United Kingdom. She holds a cornucopia containing the bounty of the rich soil of Guelph. In the original design of 1879 she was shown as Britannia, with a small shield with the British flag.

The original Latin motto "Fides, Professio, Fidelitas." was translated in the new design as "Faith Fidelity Progress".