Coat of Arms

North Cowichan's Coat-of-arms was granted November 20, 1989, by Robert Douglas Watt, Chief Herald of Canada.  This distinguished mark of honour, a symbol of North Cowichan's status as a Community, was developed locally through the direction of the Municipal Council.  It is a unique expression of North Cowichan's rich history, geography, and economy.

COMPARTMENT:  The compartment is the grassy mount upon which stand the supporters either side of the shield.  North Cowichan's compartment is a reference to the mountainous areas of the Municipality.  It rises from white and blue wavy bars, the uppermost crested, another reference to the coastline.

SUPPORTERS:  In the black and white design used until the present time the supporters were a farmer holding a sheaf of wheat on one side and a logger bearing an axe on the other.  In the present design the latter has been retained while the former has been replaced  with the figure of a pioneer woman.  She represents the many nameless ladies who played such an important part in the early history of the District

CREST:  The Crest is that part of the whole armorial bearings which rises above the helmet.  In this case, the crest is composed of a rim of gold upon which has been alternately set sheaves of wheat, another reference to the agriculture of the District, and miners' picks.  The latter remind us of the importance of mining on Mount Sicker in the early days.

FLAG:  The basic divisions of this are copied directly from those in our national flag.  The principal colours of the shield are used and the whole of the shield has been reproduced in the centre.  The technical name in heraldry for the green zone is a Canadian pale.  This was first used in the national flag.  Its use in the flag of North Cowichan marks only the second time it has made an appearance.

MOTTO:  This remains unchanged from that presently in use except that it has been moved from the shield to below the armorial bearings. Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum can be translated - "No Steps Backward".