New Coat of Arms and a Mace

During the celebrations surrounding the bicentenary, the lack of tandardization in the reproduction of the City’s “Arms”, caused City Council to authorize the preparation of a revised coat of arms. After considerable deliberation, a new coat of arms gained approval from Council and the Provincial government on 22 October 1964 before its official registration with the Patents Office in Ottawa to prevent unauthorized use. It differed chiefly from the old coat of arms in having the cod fisherman and naval seaman portrayed in 1860 dress, the year the first arms had been adopted.

In the year following the bicentenary, to mark its long association with Halifax, the Royal Canadian Navy presented a mace to the City at a special ceremony on 14 August (Natal Day in 1950). Naval personnel at HMC Dockyard had crafted it. Its stand was fashioned from french-polished wood with two brass dolphins standing on each end forming the rest for the mace.

Engraved on the mace is the mural crown from the City’s coat of arms denoting Halifax as a fortifi ed city. The Canadian coat of arms, that of the Province of Nova Scotia, of the City of Halifax and of HMCS Stadacona appear below the mural crown. Beneath the coats of arms are plaques depicting the sails of a British man-of-war with the Admiral’s pennant. Near the naval crown are four maple leaves, which in turn are enveloped by the thistle, shamrock, fleur-de-lys and rose, symbolic of those who settled early Canada. Crests of the various armed services units associated with Halifax’s history also appear, while clustered near the end of the brass knob are four sea horses, heraldic beasts symbolic of port cities. The Mace, a symbol of authority, is brought into the Chamber during regular meetings of Council, is placed in its holder in front of the Mayor where it remains until adjournment of the meeting.

In April 1956, when Leonard Kitz was mayor, the well-known Halifax architect, J. Philip Dumaresq, undertook a major renovation of the Council Chamber, creating a seating arrangement in the shape of a horseshoe, with the walls panelled in oak, concealed lighting and the windows fitted with green bamboo screens. The official opening of the renovated Council Chamber took place on 17 January 1957. In April, A. H. MacMillan, a former deputy mayor and a skillful wood carver, presented the City’s coat of arms, carved in American white oak. The arms were placed above the mayor’s chair.

Next: Restoration of the Grand Parade