By Stephen Vance, Staff
The Municipality of Meaford, along with the involvement of a working group of volunteers, is developing a Coat of Arms that will bring together symbols that reflect and represent the identity and history of the municipality.
Newly-elected councillor Tony Bell brought the idea to council shortly after the October 2014 municipal election, when he asked if the mayoral chain of office could be revised to include symbols that would represent all three of the former townships which were amalgamated in 2001. At their March 9 meeting, council approved a plan to create a Coat of Arms.
The Coat of Arms is being prepared by the Canadian Heraldic Authority, which is headed by the Governor General. The Coat of Arms will be exclusively used for ceremonial and protocol purposes. The Chain of Office, which is the official insignia of the Corporation of the Municipality of Meaford and worn by the Mayor during council meetings, will be updated once the Coat of Arms is established.
“I am very pleased to have received the feedback from this group of community leaders,” said Mayor Barb Clumpus. “We look forward to hearing from residents to ensure the Coat of Arms reflects our municipality’s history and our future.”
Another public drop-in session is being held to hear from the public on Monday, September 21, 2 – 4 p.m., at Meaford Museum (111 Bayfield St.). A draft sketch and description will be available for review.
The Coat of Arms Working Group met twice to provide feedback and is comprised of the following members:
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Mayor Barb Clumpus (Chair)
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Deputy Mayor Harley Greenfield
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Councillor Tony Bell
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Marjorie Davison (local historian)
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John Kerr (local historian)
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Bill Murdoch (former MPP Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, Warden of Grey County, Reeve and Councillor of Sydenham Township)
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Francis Richardson (former Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillor of the Municipality of Meaford)
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Gerald Shortt (former Warden of Grey County, Reeve of St. Vincent Township, Mayor and Councillor of the Municipality of Meaford)
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Linda Van Aalst (former Councillor of Sydenham Township and the Municipality of Meaford)
Meaford’s council is hoping that a revamp of the municipal Coat of Arms will send a strong signal that the municipality is serious about the inclusion and unity of all parts of the municipality.
Council will be asked to approve the concept and description in principle at its meeting on September 28.
