These are the arms of Lakehead University, granted June 20, 1959. They are derived from the arms of the city of Thunder Bay- the wavy bars representing water, the "westering" sun behind a portcullis, and the voyaguers and tree are all taken from the civic arms. The books and torches are not taken from the civic arms, but are standard symbols (or cliches, if you look at it another way) for education. The motto reads, "Achievement through effort".