- COAT OF ARMS -

The shield shape of the Nanaimo Empire Days Society coat of arms is taken directly from the City of Nanaimo coat of arms, the third presented to a city in Canada. It features the red Cross of St. George representing our English heritage and the "black diamonds" in the lower right quadrant representing the coal legacy of Nanaimo. In the upper left quadrant are two saltires (red and blue) which, along with the four black diamonds, note the 24th day of the 5th month (the five gold crowns in the red cross), the birthday of Queen Victoria.

Above the shield is a gold cougar rampant, the heraldic signature of Vancouver Island. He is within a gold crown and coronet of black diamonds and is holding a torch with three banners representing a celebration. Our traditional Bastion is pendant on the neck a tribute to our previous flag and symbol.

The motto under the shield "PRO REGINA ET URBE" translates from Latin to "FOR QUEEN AND CITY"