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Montague, Prince Edward Island (Canada)

3:5 image by Eugene Ipavec
Source: Canadian City Flags, Raven 18

Montague
Current Flag

See also:

Montague

Montague is a town and the largest population centre in Kings County, Prince Edward Island. The town straddles the Montague River which is the dividing line between the townships of Lot 52 and Lot 59.

Current Flag

Text and image(s) from Canadian City Flags, Raven 18 (2011), courtesy of the North American Vexillological Association, which retains copyright. Image(s) by permission of Eugene Ipavec.

Design

The flag of the Town of Montague has a green field with a wide wavy band of blue edged in white running down the centre, from top to bottom. Near the base of the flag, the band splits into three parts, each also edged in white. Running horizontally across the centre of the flag and surmounting the blue band is a two-arched bridge of stone blocks in golden yellow with black details. The central pier between the arches is set in the centre of the blue band. Above the bridge on the blue band is a fish in white with black details, leaping toward the hoist. On either side of the fish, above the bridge, is a plough in white, with black details. Surrounding the flag on all sides but the hoist is a border formed by alternating rectangles of green and white, five at the top and bottom, four at the fly. The border rectangles meet in angled corners at the fly end of the flag; the border width is 1/25 the height of the flag.
Rob Raeside, Canadian City Flags, Raven 18, 2011

Symbolism

The Town of Montague is the largest community in Kings County, and lies on the Cardigan River where it enters the Gulf of St. Lawrence in eastern Prince Edward Island. The green field of the flag represents the lands of the town and the surrounding fields and is also a principal colour in the provincial coat of arms of Prince Edward Island. The blue band splitting into three parts represents the Montague River, which at the base joins two other rivers, the Cardigan and Brudenell. The bridge symbolizes the crossing of the river at the town. While the actual bridge is not stone, the stones represent the idea of permanence and the ongoing importance of the crossing with the golden yellow referring to commence and wealth via transportation. The two arches form an “M” in outline, a subtle reference to the town’s name. The fish honours one of two historic industries and ongoing recreational activity in the river and the nearby ocean, as well as the new aquaculture operations. The ploughs underline the importance of agriculture and link the symbol with the previous town emblem. Both the fish and the ploughs are shown in white, the second major colour in the arms of Prince Edward Island. The border emulates that of the provincial flag. The flag is a banner of the town's arms.
Rob Raeside, Canadian City Flags, Raven 18, 2011

Selection

The town applied to the Canadian Heraldic Authority for a grant of a flag.
Rob Raeside, Canadian City Flags, Raven 18, 2011

Designer

Robert D. Watt, Chief Herald of Canada, Canadian Heraldic Authority.
Rob Raeside, Canadian City Flags, Raven 18, 2011

Coat of Arms

Source: Canadian Heraldic Authority

Shield

The shield contains the same elements as the flag, which is a banner of arms.

Badge

Features a gold bridge of two arches contained within a garland of lupins, also gold, with green leaves. This links the Montague bridge with the notion of fair Montague and natural beauty.

Crest (above the Shield)

The crest is set on the traditional helmet of heraldry which, in the case of grants to municipalities, is often taken to represent the determination of citizens to safeguard the interests of the community. It is framed by the mantling and wreath of green and white. Above the wreath is an open crown or coronet of cut stones, in red with white masonry. Rising out of the crown is a fishing boat common to the estuaries and sea in eastern P.E.I. The mural coronet is the traditional heraldic symbol for municipal government, so refers to the Town as a municipal corporation. As well, the red is an allusion to the heritage building which houses the Museum.

Compartment/ Supporters

The compartment on which the shield rests and the supporters stand is a combination of sea on the left and land on the right; grass set with lupin flowers. The supporter on the left is a mermaid with gold body and hair and a silver tail. She wears a green open crown of oak leaves. On the right is a gold horse with silver mane and hooves and a collar of lupin blossoms in red.

The theme of the compartment and supporters is to demonstrate that Montague's history and prosperity has been formed by sea and land, so one supporter is a sea creature and the other a land creature. Additionally, the mermaid can be seen as representing the spirit of the sea. The oak leaves in her coronet refer to the oak trees in the arms of the Province. The horse also honours agriculture and the pioneers and lupins are a familiar sight in the gardens and along the roadsides of the Island.

Motto

"Prosper Fair Montague" is a call to the ongoing success of the community with the adjective referring to the Town's setting and appearance. The phrase actually combines an invocation of prosperity, with part of the comment of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet where she says, in Act II, "In truth fair Montague . . .".

researched by Phil Nelson, 2 July 1999