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Queen's University

by Chris Kretowicz

See also:

Canada: Historic, Cultural, Economic, Government

Queen's University is located in Kingston. The coat of arms is easily found on any of the university's web pages, e.g., http://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/info/coatofarms.html, where it is also described as "Or, on a saltire Azure between in chief a fir Tree eradicated, in base a thistle stalked and leaved and in fess a red rose barbed, seeded, stalked and leaved all Proper and a trefoil Vert, an open book of the First, a bordure Gules charged with eight ancient crowns Gold." It is further noted that this unique heraldic device was assigned to Queen's University by the College of Arms. Originally devised by amateur heralds when the university was founded, the coat of arms is very complex... A cross of St. Andrew, with an open book at the junction to show that the arms belong to a place of learning, represents the original bond between Queen's and Scottish universities. Within the arms of the cross, four devices are displayed: at the top a pine tree for Canada, on the left a rose for England, at the bottom a thistle for Scotland, on the right a shamrock for Ireland. The shield is surrounded with a red bordure within which are disposed eight ancient crowns to recall the name Queen's and the granting of a royal charter.

The University flag, while well known to students and alumni seems to be strangely absent from the web. The Alumni Magazine has shown photographs of it in all sorts of places, and it is definitely used at alumni events and football games.
Chris Kretowicz, 19 August 2002