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Marystown, Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada)

contributed by Arnaud Leroy 2 December 2005
Source: Town hall

Description of the flag

See also:

Description of the flag

Divided per saltire yellow and green with the municipal shield centred.

The Town of Marystown (5,506 inhabitants in 2011; 6,197 ha) is located on the Burin Peninsula, 300 km of St. John's.

Marystown was known until 1909 as Mortier Bay, a wide harbour considered as one of the largest ice-free harbours in eastern North America. Shipbuilding started in the 1800s; in the 1840s 20-30 ton fishing schooners were built there. During the Second World War, the first and only warships (minesweepers) built in Newfoundland were completed in Marystown. Mortier Bay was also the site elected to evacuate the Royal family and regroup the British Navy in the event of German invasion of Britain.
http://www.townofmarystown.com/mrreadyspeech.html - Municipal website

The symbols of Marystown were granted by Letters Patented registered on 22 March 2001 in the Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges, vol. IV, p. 101, as announced on 3 November 2001 in the Canada Gazette, Vo. 135, p. 4,057.

Arms
Vert a ship's wheel between three drops, on a chief wavy or two barrulets wavy vert;
Crest
Issuant from a naval crown of ships' sterns or alternating with maple leaves gules, a three-storied wooden lighthouse proper;
Supporters
Dexter a female fish-plant worker, sinister a male ship-fitter, both standing on a rock set with grass strewn with pitcher plants, white roses, shamrocks, and lilies, all proper;
Motto
UBI INCREMENTUM EST VIA VITAE;

Flag
Per saltire vert and or, an escutcheon of the arms;

Creator(s): Original concept of Charles Maier, Athabaska Herald, assisted by the Heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority
Painter: Robert Grey
Calligrapher: Suzzann Wright
http://archive.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=202 - Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges

The flag is hoisted in the Municipal Centre Memorial Park, on the same pole as the flag of Newfoundland: http://www.townofmarystown.com/images/Municipal_Centre_Memorial_Park.jpg - Municipal website

"The colours in the flag are green and gold. Green has been the traditional colour of Marystown and gold was used to reflect the colours of the Coat of Arms. The gold wavy lines at the top of the shield represent the waves that continually wash on the shores of Mortier Bay. The ships wheel in the center signifies the shipbuilding industry and, of course, the fishing industry, which are the mainstays of the economy of our community. The three small gold drops that surround the wheel represent the "black gold" or the oil that is off our shores. And we hope the beginning of very prosperous times for all of Marystown.

The base of the coat of arms is an island of rocky shores which represents the island of Newfoundland in which Marystown is located. The vegetation on the island is mainly the English rose, the fleur-de-lis, the shamrock and the pitcher plant. The pitcher plant is the provincial flower of Newfoundland. The three other flowers represent the English and Irish from the 1800s and the French and Basques fishermen from the 16th and 17th centuries, who originally settled the town. The fleur-de-lis also alludes to the Virgin Mary, after whom the town was named. The shield sits on the island and is supported on each side by two people, representative of the two main occupations of the town, a fish plant worker and a ship fitter, in typical garb. These two industries have supported our town since the beginning. At the top of the shield sits a crown, which signifies our attachment to the British Colonies. The lighthouse, which sits within the crown, represents what Marystown has been and will continue to be: a 'safe harbour' for all who live, work or visit. The motto is a Latin phrase meaning "Where Growth Is A Way Of Life".
http://www.townofmarystown.com/index.html - Municipal website

Ivan Sache, 29 July 2012