Coat of Arms

Armorial Bearings of the Town of Cardston

At the regular meeting of council held December 10th, 2019, the new coat of arms of the Town of Cardston was unveiled.

A grant of armorial bearings (which includes coats of arms) is an honour conferred within the Canadian Honours System in recognition of service to the community. A request was submitted almost three years ago for the Town of Cardston to receive armorial bearings from the Canadian Crown under the powers exercised by the governor general. This initiated the lengthy process of developing a coat of arms that was unique to Cardston, and reflected its history, and contributions to Canada.

When a coat of arms is designed, it is intentionally made to be simple, elegant, and unique to petitioner. After a design is created and approved, a Letters Patent is created and the grant is annouced in the Canadian Gazette (The official newspaper of the government of Canada) and the Coat of Arms is then registered in the Public Register of Arms, Flags, and Badges.

Every element in the Coat of Arms is deeply symbolic of some facet of the Town of Cardston or its history. Town Council created a committee with the specific task of identifying a list of items, symbols, or things which represent Cardston for the Heraldic Authority to choose from when creating the concept.

The symbolism for all the elements in Cardston’s Coat of arms is as follows:

Arms (Shield)

The gold background symbolizes the town's agricultural success. The carriage wheel refers to the settlers' travel by wagon train, and also to the town's Remington Carriage Museum. The blue band and white rectangles represents the water of Lee Creek used in irrigation canals and the communities serviced by the said canals. As well, the rectangles evoke playing cards, and thus represent the Card family, the leading family of the original settlers, and make a canting reference to the town’s name.

Crest and Wreath

The weasel represents the Kainai (Blood Tribe) of the Blackfoot Confederacy, traditionally known as the "Weasel People" ("Aapaitsitapi"). It acknowledges that Cardston is located on part of the traditional Blackfoot territory. The wild rose is the provincial flower.

Aapaitstapii 

Supporters

The Rocky Mountain Elk is the state animal of Utah, where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is headquartered. It symbolizes the church 's support for the initial settlers' activities, including the building of a gold-decorated temple.

Compartment

The wild rose is Alberta 's provincial flower, and cottonwood trees stabilize local creek beds. The mountain acknowledges that Cardston is located on part of the traditional Blackfoot territory, all of which can be seen from Chief Mountain (Ninaistako).

Motto

“Trust Endures” The idea of trust enduring refers to the people's faith in God.

Badge

The triangle represents the location of Cardston in the agricultural area called Palliser's Triangle. The bee is a symbol used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for industry.

Flag

The symbolism of this emblem is the same as the Arms (Shield): The gold background symbolizes the town's agricultural success. The carriage wheel refers to the settlers' travel by wagon train, and also to the town's Remington Carriage Museum. The blue band and white rectangles represents the water of Lee Creek used in irrigation canals and the communities serviced by the said canals. As well, the rectangles evoke playing cards, and thus represent the Card family, the leading family of the original settlers, and make a canting reference to the town’s name. 

Letters Patent

TO ALL TO WHOM

these Presents shall come or whom the same may in any way concern, GREETING: BY Claire Boudreau, Chief Herald of Canada; WHEREAS a request that heraldic emblems be granted has been received from the, TOWN OF CARDSTON, Alberta, incorporated as a village on the 20th day of December 1898 and, as a town on the 2nd day of July 1901, NOW KNOW YOU that pursuant to the authority vested in Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.Q, C.D., Governor General of Canada, to exercise the armorial prerogative of Her Majesty The Queen of Canada, and, to the terms of my Commission of Office, I, the Chief Herald of Canada, do by these Presents grant and assign to the TOWN OF CARDSTON the following Arms: Or a carriage wheel within an orle Azure surmounted at each angle by a billet Argent; And for a Crest: A demi-weasel affronty Argent issuant from a circlet of wild roses proper; And, for a Motto: TRUST ENDURES; And for Supporters: Two elk Or each attired, unguled, and gorged, of a collar Azure, standing on each side of the Chief Mountain on a base set with wild roses and cottonwood leaves proper; And, for a Flag: A banner of the Ams; And for a Badge: A triangle Or charged with a bee volant proper; AS THE SAME, are more plainly here depicted and entered in Vo1ume VII, page 198 of the Public Register of Arms, flags and badges of Canada to be borne and used for ever hereafter by the TOWN OF CARDSTON, all according to the Law of Arms of Canada; GIVEN under my hand and the seat of the Canadian Heraldic Authority at Rideau Hall in the City of Ottawa this 15th day of August 2019. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF Assunta Di Lorenzo, Herald Chancellor, has witnessed this grant with her signature.

Original concept of Darrel Kennedy, Assiniboine Herald, assisted by the heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.

Painter: Melissa Aberin

Calligrapher: Yolande Lessard

Public Register of Arms , Flag and Badges of Canada. Volume VII page 198, 15 August 20 19.