Parksville

PARKSVILLE

Official blazon

Arms : Azure a salmon naiant Argent wearing a coronet erablé Or between two bendlets wavy Argent, all between in chief a sun in splendour Or and in base two bars wavy Argent.
Crest: Issuant from a mural crown Argent, each tower charged with a sand dollar Purpure, a mountain Azure its heights Argent.
Supporters: Dexter a bald eagle sinister a beaver Or each gorged with a collar of roses Gules seeded Or barbed Vert pendent therefrom a hurt, that to the dexter charged with a garb, that to the sinister with a brant goose volant Or, and standing on a sandy mount set on either side with fir trees and issuant from waves proper.
Motto: TERRA BENEVOLA

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on April 15, 2010.

The shield is based on a coat of arms used by the city since 1977. The wavy band symbolizes the Englishman River and the salmon the natural riches and fishery of the area. The salmon’s coronet represents Canada. The sun recalls the area’s temperate climate, while the wavy bars indicate the city’s seaside location.

The mural coronet denotes a municipality. In this instance, the addition of the three towers honours the Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Competition, a major event in the local calendar. The sand dollars evoke the city’s spectacular beaches. The representation of Mount Arrowsmith celebrates this local landmark as well as the resources and recreational opportunities afforded by the mountains at Parksville’s back.

The bald eagle is a notable local species. Its collar of red roses, the English national flower, is an allusion to the Englishman River, and the garb of wheat on its medallion honours the community’s farming heritage. The beaver, the national animal of Canada, represents industry and determination. Its medallion bearing a brant goose celebrates Parksville’s status as the “Brant Capital of Western Canada”.

The motto means “The welcoming land”, and evokes Parksville’s many natural blessings, as well as the friendliness of its citizens.

Literature : Image from http://www.gg.ca