An older version of the arms in the provincial parliament building in Victoria. Note the setting sun atop the flag
Splendour without diminishement
| The Arms of British Columbia | |
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An older version of the arms in the provincial parliament building in Victoria. Note the setting sun atop the flag
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| Adopted | 1906, augmented 1987 |
| Crest | Upon a helm with a wreath argent and gules the royal crest of general purpose of our royal predecessor Queen Victoria differenced for us and our successors in right of British Columbia with the lion thereof garlanded about the neck with the provincial flower that is to say the pacific dogwood (Cornus nuttalli) with leaves all proper mantled gules doubled argent. |
| Escutcheon | Argent, 3 bars wavy azure, issuant from the base a demi-sun in splendour proper, on a chief, the Union Device charged in the centre point with an antique crown Or |
| Supporters | On the dexter side, a wapiti stag (Cervus canadensis) proper and on the sinister side a bighorn sheep ram (Ovis canadensis) argent armed and unguled Or. |
| Compartment | Beneath the shield a scroll entwined with pacific dogwood flowers slipped and leaved proper inscribed with the motto assigned by the said warrant of our royal predecessor King Edward VII that is to say "Splendour sine occasu". |
| Motto | SPLENDOR SINE OCCASU Splendour without diminishement |
The original Coat of Arms of British Columbia was granted to British Columbia by a Royal Warrant of King Edward VII on March 31, 1906.[1] A banner of the arms comprises the provincial flag.
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The first heraldic provincial symbol was the Great Seal of the province, being the royal crest of the crowned lion upon the imperial crown as was the usual practice for British colonies, but with the letters "BC" added. This was used upon British Columbia joining Confederation.[2]
The first coat of arms of the province was created by Canon Arthur Beanlands of Victoria, whose version was similar to the modern one, except with the charges on the shield reversed: the chief was the setting sun and the main part of the shield was the Union Flag. This coat was adopted by Order-in-Council of the province as the Great Seal on July 19, 1895.[2]
While the design of the Great Seal was a provincial prerogative, coats of arms were (and are) honours granted by the Sovereign. The province attempted to register the design with the British College of Arms in 1897, but was unable to do so for several reasons. First among them was the use of the royal crest, which is the exclusive right of the sovereign and could not be granted to another entity even as a sign of utmost loyalty to the Queen. The heralds objected to the placement of the Union Flag in an inferior position on the shield (conflicting with the popular slogan, "The sun never sets on the British Empire"). The use of supporters, a high honour, was considered presumptuous, as no other province had been granted such a privilege.[2]
The shield only (with the positions of the Union Flag and setting sun reversed, and with the antique crown added), along with the motto, was granted in 1906. The achievement of arms was augmented with a crest, supporters, and compartment granted by Queen Elizabeth II, on October 15, 1987.[1][2]
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