Ceremonial Marks

UCalgary's coat of arms has very limited ceremonial applications and should not be used on promotional materials, apparel or mainstream communications.

Meanings

The shield consists of two parts: the upper part (the chief) separated from the lower (the base) by an arched line symbolizing the Chinook arch. The ground colour of the chief is scarlet, commemorating the North West Mounted Police under whose influence Western Canada was settled. On this colour is a pair of open books bound in gold. Between the books is a white rose, symbolic of Alberta. The ground colour of the base is gold, indicative of golden sunshine or golden grain. On this is a black bull's head with red horns and crossed staves bearing red flags, reminiscent of the family logo of Lt. Col. J.F. Macleod, the NWMP officer who founded Fort Calgary. 

Below the shield, printed on an escroll, is the university's motto, "Mo shúile togam suas" (translated as "I will lift up my eyes"), rendered in Gaelic uncial letters. The motto is a Gaelic version of Psalm 121 of the King James Bible.

Origins

Lord Lyon King of Arms at Edinburgh granted the coat of arms to UCalgary in 1966. The court of the Lord Lyon has the longest history of continuous authority of any in the English-speaking world. It ensures that UCalgary's coat of arms is absolutely unique; its use is protected by the university's own statutes as well as by the authority of the Lord Lyon.

UCalgary's first president and vice-chancellor, H.S. Armstrong, contacted Lord Lyon shortly after the university became independent requesting that a symbol of heraldry be developed. After lengthy discussions as to what would be an acceptable coat of arms, the bull's head was approved. The selection of the bull, flags, wild rose, open books and motto was due mainly to Armstrong's own feelings as to what would represent Calgary and the university in the best possible way. As an aside, books open or closed have no tradition in heraldry and Lord Lyon made an exception by permitting UCalgary to have them.

The UCalgary academic seal is used on official documents, such as academic credentials and transcripts, as well as in the context of convocation ceremonies. The academic seal graphic should not be used on promotional materials or apparel.

UCalgary's tartan was designed by Jim Odell, a UCalgary education and fine arts graduate, and accredited in a ceremony (May 4, 2001) presided over by Duncan Paisley of Westerlea, President of the Scottish Tartans Society and director of the Register of All Publicly Known Tartans. It features UCalgary's official colours of red and gold.

The ceremony was both the first proper tartan accreditation ceremony held in Canada, and the first time a member of the Scottish Tartans Society visited Canada to officially accredit a tartan.

Use of the tartan is limited to traditional academic ceremonies such as convocation and a small collection of high-end accessory items offered through the UCalgary Bookstore. The tartan should not be used in general promotional materials or everyday apparel.