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Delta, British Columbia (Canada)

Greater Vancouver Regional District

image by Dean McGee, 30 December 2002

Description of the flag
Delta Police Department

See also:

Description of the flag

Founded 1879 as a District Municipality. Area 183.78 km2, population 96950 (2001 census). The district comprises 3 communities: North Delta, Ladner, and Tsawassen (or South Delta), so the triangle in the arms and flag supposedly represents the three areas, of course the logo also represents the Greek letter of the same name. The district's old logo showed the triangle and circle, with a stylized boat's prow at the top. Delta lies on the Delta of the Fraser River, with a land boundary to Point Roberts, Washington, which is otherwise cut off from the rest of the United States. The coat of arms was granted by Lord Lyon in the late 80s and confirmed by the Canadian Heraldic Authority after its foundation (so Municipal Hall has two Letters Patent for the arms on display: one Scottish and one Canadian)

Robert D. Watt, Chief Herald of Canada says (in The Greater Vancouver Book) "The new coat of arms was developed by a committee of Council headed by then-Mayor Ernest Burnett and the design synthesized important elements of the history, geography and economy of the municipality.

The shield is particularly striking and is patterned very closely on the Delta logo designed by Robert Miller in 1969. The green field represents Delta's rich farmlands. In the centre, the silver disc represents the sun, enclosed by the silver triangle, referring to the Greek letter.

The crest is composed of the red and white mural coronet, symbolizing a Canadian district municipality and the upper half of a silver ship's wheel, for water based commerce.

The two silver horses represent Delta's foundation industry, agriculture, and its ongoing importance to the community as well as the corporation's strength. Each horse is distinguished by collars and medallions referring to two industries, grain growing and fishing.

The compartment symbolizes the municipality; green fields bordered by the Sea and the River and includes symbols for the Fraser [River] and Boundary Bay [an arm of the Pacific Ocean].

The motto [OURS TO PRESERVE BY HAND AND HEART] invites citizens to conserve and strengthen Delta's special qualities."

It should probably be noted that the white symbol in the shield has been recoloured a golden yellow on the flag. I seen to recall as a former Delta resident that they had hoisted a flag with the symbol in white (and the background looked black to me, but it was probably very dark green). They may have even tried a flag with the full achievement on a white bedsheet, but I don't think these are worth inclusion.

The symbols on the arms allude to the agricultural roots of the district, but it also includes two airports (one international, one private), a major B.C. Ferries terminal at Tsawwassen, and several industrial areas and seaport facilities including the massive coal facilities at Roberts Bank, which can load up to 260 000 tonnes of coal on a single ship.
Dean McGee, 30 December 2002

Delta Police Department

image by Randy Young, 17 March 2015
based on image located by Dave Fowler, 3 November, 2013

The flag of the Delta (BC) Police Department can be seen here, here, here, and here. An article about the flag consecration is at http://24x7.deltapolice.ca/2013/06/12/delta-police-flag-consecration. The Delta Police badge is shown at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/25/Delta_Police_Crest_2013.jpg.
Dave Fowler, 3 November 2013

Some extracts from http://24x7.deltapolice.ca/2013/06/12/delta-police-flag-consecration by Cst. Jim Ingram:

2013 marks the 125th anniversary of the Delta Police Department. We’ve had a new badge provided by the Chief Herald and with that adopted a new flag. Adopting or consecrating a new flag has a long standing Military and para-Military tradition.

Having a badge sanctioned by the Queen (her representative, the Chief Herald) is significant. The Heraldry takes into account what is known about us publicly and creates our badge. We become represented by a heraldic symbol, our badge. In medieval times a heraldic badge was used to indicate allegiance to an individual or a family. We use it today to indicate a sworn or affirmed oath to a community and duty. The heraldry also designs and sanctions our flag, using the badge. In medieval militaries, flags (or colours) were issued to regiments and used to organize and represent their soldiers. The colours were traditionally guarded by experienced or elite soldiers of the regiment to prevent it’s capture in battle. The colours became sacred to the regiments as they represented the honour and traditions of that regiment. Once a heraldic flag is blessed and adopted by the regiment it becomes the regiment’s “colour”. As we have been granted a heraldic badge and flag, our parade is based on the military tradition to bless and adopt the flag as our “colour”. This flag, our flag, represents us, the sworn members of the Delta Police, our honour and our traditions. The Lieutenant Governor’s attendance as a representative of the Queen further ties the Commonwealth tradition to the parade.