Editorially speaking...
News that the coat of arms (above) of Newfoundland, Labrador has been retired as being unacceptable to all citizens in this new age of Truth and Reconciliation follows on the heels of North Cowichan retiring its own shield (below). —Wikipedia, www.heraldry-wiki.com
In November it was reported that North Cowichan’s coat of arms was headed for retirement in the Chemainus Museum.
Let’s go back in time, all the way to June 1998 when the NewsLeader reported that heraldry experts Frank Hird-Rutter and Graham Anderson were going to unveil a wooden, four-foot-square, ‘two-dimensional’ replica of the Municipal coat of arms they’d originally created in 1990 at Council’s Wednesday meeting.
“We’re donating it in celebration of their 125th birthday,” said Hird-Rutter; “Graham paid for the wood [local cedar and alder] and I did the carving.”
The shield was to be hung from the ceiling in Council chambers for public viewing during meetings.
Carving came naturally to Hird-Rutter, 69, having been a family occupation in England for generations. But the North Cowichan crest had presented new challenges to him: “This is the first time I’ve had to carve human figures into a coat of arms. Most figures are heraldic beasts like stags and bears.
“Humans are carved in perspective. It’s easy with an animal but with clothed human figures precision is needed.”
The human figures in question were the work of Anderson who’d served as a heraldic consultant for the cities of Coquitlam, Sayward, Tumbler Ridge, Prince George and Port Coquitlam. They consist of a logger on the left and a woman on the right. “I wanted to commemorate the pioneer women of the valley,” explained the Shawnigan Lake School history teacher.
“She’s intended to be Mary Walden who had a farm in Glenora when I was a boy.”
Two wavy blue bars symbolize the Cowichan and Chemainus Rivers, the salmon represents Valley fishing. The serrated band across the middle denotes a chainsaw, a sheaf of wheat honours Valley farming and the pick recognizes mining on Mount Sicker.
The colour green symbolizes prosperity and gold “hints at wealth”.
The Latin motto Vestigia nulla retrorsum means No Steps Backward.
At the same meeting a wrought iron version of the coat of arms was to be dedicated by Council. This shield, originally to be mounted on the exterior of the Municipal Hall’s main doors, was mounted on the wall instead. Based upon the design of Hird-Rutter and Anderson, it was the work of local artist Adrian Mulholland who also fashioned Duncan City Hall’s exterior coat of arms.
In due course Mayor Anne Murray unveiled the 80-pound coat of arms and there it was, for the world to see, until the recent decision to retire it.
As explained in a report by Barb Floden, Municipal manger of communications and public engagement, “The coat of arms was developed in the late 1980s with the very best of intentions by community volunteers...” but is no longer relevant.
At its August 18, 2021 meeting, Council, concerned about perceptions it raises around colonialism, racism and gender inequality—as it was reported in the Citizen—agreed.