The Arms Of Québec City

The ship in this coat of arms represents the maritime vocation of Québec with its important seaport. The full sails symbolize the strength and courage of the population. Each of the two keys has its own significance: the key on the right symbolizes Québec as the capital of New France, of Canada, at the beginning of the British regime, and of Lower Canada; the key on the left represents the capital of the province of Québec since the Confederation. Together they symbolize the political and municipal history of the City of Québec.

The green maple leaf symbolizes the Canadian and Quebecois personality of the city of Québec and represents all ethnic elements of its population, along with the patriotic and civic spirit of its citizens. The mural crown, on top of the escutcheon, signifies a city, and is particularly appropriate, since Québec is one of the only (if not THE only) fortified cities in North America.

The motto "Don de Dieu feray valoir" (which might be loosely translated as "Gift of God shall make prosper") is a testimony of christian faith.

The coat of arms is clearly derived from that of Paris (shown below). This is fitting, as while Paris is the capital of France, Québec was the capital of New France, and remains the capital of the province and the effective capital of francophone North America.

Data and image taken from here.

This coat of arms was designed for the city of Québec by the Comte de Frontenac in October of 1673. However, the French ignored the suggestion that the city be granted arms, and nothing came of the petition. This is too bad, since it would have made Quebec the first city in the New World north of Mexico to have real (i.e. unassumed) arms, and these ones are particularly well-designed. The symbolism is nicely obvious- France ancient differenced with a chief bearing a beaver (a Canadian symbol even then), and supported by two moose, animals which were common in Quebec but not found in France. The lack of a crest is typical of French heraldry.


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