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image by Jens Pattke, 4 November 2010See also:
Antigonish town is the county seat of Antigonish County, Nova Scotia. Special thanks to Dianne Wilson for town crest and additional info.
Flag Inquiry Response: I have attached a digital version of the crest which
is on our flag (white background). In 1989, the Town celebrated it's 100th year
of incorporation. As part of the celebration, the Town commissioned a new crest,
which is featured on our flag. Also commissioned that year was a book of the
History of Antigonish, written by Patrick F. Walsh. In the opening page, the
meaning of the name of our Town (Antigonish) and the new crest is described as
follows:
Antigonish: pronounced Anty-Go-Nish, accent on the last
syllable.
Authorities cannot agree on the meaning of the name of Antigonish.
Most agree it is from the Mi'kmaq Indian language, probably spelled by early
language students: NALIGITGONIETJ. Debate seems to boil the translation down to
'river of many forks,' rivers of fish,' or 'where branches are torn off' (the
trees by bears looking for beech nuts). The meaning favored by Fr. A.A.
Johnston, noted historian, is the latter. All of the above allusions are
reflected in the new armorial bearings of the town, adopted by Town Council in
honor of the centennial of incorporation.
Armorial Bearings: Town of
Antigonish
The bear, the broken beech tree: from the Mi'kmaq 'where branches
are torn off' (beech trees by bears).
The rivers: from the Mi'kmaq 'river of
many forks, rivers of fish."
The cross of St. Andrew, the colour blue:
represent Scotland, Nova Scotia and St. Francis Xavier University.
The open
book: the university.
The ancient arrow tip and ermine fur: from the arms of
Sir Guy Carleton, first Baron Dorchester (Dorchester was the original name of
Antigonish).
The coronet: reserved for County Councils (Antigonish is the
county seat).
The green palings: the forests.
The wheat sheaves: represent
agriculture (from the original town seal of 1889).
The motto: above the
shield as in Scottish custom.
The Armorial Bearings and new Town Seal
were designed for the centennial of incorporation by Robert Pichette, OStJ, GMC,
KCLJ, FRSA, and the artist who rendered the final forms was Karen Bailly of
Ottawa.
Dianne Wilson, Deputy Clerk, Town of Antigonish
http://www.townofantigonish.ca/main.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigonish,_Nova_Scotia
John S. Johnson, 4
November 2010