Coat of arms of Prince Edward Island


The coat of arms of Prince Edward Island was begun when the shield and motto in the achievement were granted in 1905 by royal warrant of the King Edward VII.

History

In the chief of the shield is the lion passant of England. The lower portion depicts three oak saplings, representing the Island's three counties, beneath a mature oak that originally represented Great Britain. Prior to the adoption of the current coat of arms, the trees were used, without the lion, as the symbol of the province.
The additions to the arms were granted on 26 April 2002, and the process was completed on 13 December 2002, when the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, unveiled the crest, supporters, and compartment, after which the full achievement was taken into official use. This was requested by Prince Edward Island Premier Pat Binns to commemorate the 150th anniversary of responsible government on the island.

Symbolism

The crest is a blue jay holding in its beak a sprig of red oak, both symbols of the island. The crown represents royal sovereignty and its use in the arms is an honour granted by the Queen.
The supporters are silver foxes, rare animals native to the region; fur farming was perfected on Prince Edward Island, and Island silver fox fur was prized. The fox also represents sagacity and wit. To denote other Island industries, one fox wears a garland of potato blossoms, and another one wears a length of fishing net.
The compartment centres on a Mi'kmaq eight-pointed star symbol representing the sun; this is surrounded by roses for England, lilies for France, thistles for Scotland, and shamrocks for Ireland, as well as Lady's Slippers, the floral emblem of the island.
The island's motto, Parva sub ingenti, is taken from Virgil's Georgics. The full quotation is:
It has been the island's motto since 1769.

Blazon

The shield was blazoned by Royal Warrant on 30 May 1905, as:
The warrant also specified the motto Parva sub ingenti.
This was augmented by proclamation, recorded in the PEI , 21 December 2002, with the following: