Last modified: 2005-09-24 by phil nelson
Keywords: british columbia | abbotsford |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
See also:
The City of Abbotsford was formed in 1995 from the merger of the District of Abbotsford and the District of Matsqui (pron. MATTS-kwee). The District of Abbotsford, incorporated 1972, itself was an amalgamation of the Village of Abbotsford (inc. 1924) and the District of Sumas (inc. 1913). This is one of the few examples of amalgamation in BC, unlike the trend toward Mega-Cities in Central Canada.
Abbotsford sits on the south shore of the Fraser River, with Mission to the
North (across the Fraser), Langley Twp. to the West, Chilliwack to the East,
and Sumas, Washington, USA to the South. There is a border crossing to Sumas
WA, and an international airport. Abbotsford International Airport (YXX),
which now is served by scheduled airlines carrying passengers across Canada,
is still the home to one of the largest airshows in North America, held each
August. Abbotsford is in the Fraser Valley Regional District, but participates
with the Greater Vancouver Regional District.
Dean McGee, 9 August 2005
The new arms were granted to the new City in 1995. They take the pattern of
the old Abbotsford arms and add the Green colour from the Matsqui arms. The
crest is the Thunderbird from the Matsqui arms, recoloured. The crest has
become the main logo of the City, but does not appear on the flag. The
supporters were also changed. The flag is a banner of the new arms.
Dean McGee, 9 August 2005
image by Blas Delgado and Dean McGee, 9 August 2005
On the twentieth anniversary of incorporation (1992), the District of
Abbotsford was granted a coat of arms by the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
These arms had a Blue background, and featured straight and diagonal crosses
forming a pattern reminiscent of the Union Jack, apparently representing
Abbotsford as the "crossroads", at the centre is a strawberry
blossom, representing the local berry growing industry, and also the Fraser
River. The flag was a banner of arms.
Dean McGee, 9 August 2005
image by The Flag Shop Vancouver
through Dean McGee, 9 August 2005
There was also a "letterhead logo" flag used by the District of
Abbotsford in its pre-heraldic days: an "A" with a wheel, and the
city's name in a curved font (no date known, but a very 70s or early 80s
graphic design style). The wheel-spoke design influenced the District's coat
of arms, which later gave way to the current arms and flag.
Dean McGee, 9 August 2005
image by Dean McGee, 9 August 2005
Abbotsford Police Department is one of the few independent city police
forces in BC. Prior to amalgamation, Matsqui had its own police force, and
Abbotsford an RCMP detachment. After Amalgamation the new force took the
Abbotsford name, and many of the Matsqui symbols. Their flag is reminiscent of
the old Matsqui Flag. It features the full Coat of Arms of the City on a
Green-White-Green Canadian Pale, with "ABBOTSFORD" written above,
and "POLICE" written below, in straight horizontal lines, in
sans-serif capitals.
Dean McGee, 9 August 2005
image by The Flag Shop Vancouver
through Dean McGee, 9 August 2005
The District of Matsqui had a coat of Arms granted by the College of
Heralds in England. The full achievement (shield, helm, mantling, crest, but
no supporters or compartment) was placed on a Green-White-Green Canadian Pale.
The arms included two winged wheels (Abbotsford Airport was in Matsqui
District), two sprigs of Strawberry plants, and a beehive kiln. The
Thunderbird crest (which faces the sinister) was adapted to become the crest
of the new city. The flag bore the legend "DISTRICT OF MATSQUI" in
an arch across the top, and "B.C. , CANADA" straight across the
bottom, with a large gap after BC, and the comma more or less centred.
Dean McGee, 9 August 2005