The Lion, the Lynx and the Mustang: The Evolution of Western’s Coat of Arms and Athletic Logo
Western has changed a great deal since its founding in 1878 and the signs and symbols associated with the university are no exception. Western has utilized several versions of a coat of arms and the Mustang’s uniforms and mascots have evolved.
The John P. Metras Sports Museum located in Alumni Hall has a large collection of artifacts that not only chronicle the athletic history of Western, but communicate how Western has represented itself over the years.
Canadian Heraldry
Canadian heraldry is largely descended from British and French tradition. European settlers in Canada brought over their symbols and increasingly began to incorporate uniquely Canadian elements like maple leaves, beavers and moose into their arms.
English settlers relied on the College of Arms in London for designs and this is the organization that granted Western’s arms in 1931. Prior to 1988, Canada had no heraldic organization and relied on authorities in England and Scotland.
The First Arms of Western
Western was founded in 1878 as The Western University of London Ontario and was under the authority of the Church of England. The first arms used by the University incorporated religious and secular symbols and two remain today—the book and lion. The shield was quartered by crossed swords representative of struggle. The shield also contained a bishop’s mitre, a crown, an open book and a beaver. Atop the shield was a lion. The school motto was “Timor Domini Principium Sapientiae” which is Latin for “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
The lion is derived from the arms of Reverend Alfred Peache who endowed Huron College with a gift of £5000 and later became Chancellor of the University. The mitre is a hat worn by members of the Anglican clergy and appears above the crossed swords. The open book is a bible and the crown was called the crown of life. The beaver at the bottom was meant to represent the City of London.
Western passed from Anglican to Provincial control in 1908 but the religiously inspired arms remained in use until the spring of 1914. Western would be without arms until 1916.
The Second Arms of Western
The second coat of arms first appeared in 1916 and was used until 1932. It can still be found throughout University College, and on door handles to buildings constructed through the 1960s.
Banished are all the religious symbols except the open bible. The top of the shield depicts a setting sun over the hills, meant to indicate Western’s geographic location. The lion has been moved into the shield. The beaver was replaced by a stag, because beavers had been extirpated from London. The new school motto was chosen to be “Veritas et Utilitas” which is Latin for Truth and Usefulness.
This arms appeared on university yearbooks, Gazette covers, sports patches and buildings. However, it was never officially registered or approved by the College of Arms in England. The bible was at the bottom of the shield and it was debated if this location was appropriate for a holy book. This was remedied in 1931 when the hill and bible were swapped and the crossed swords included once more.
The Debate Over New Arms
Despite fixing the heraldic error in 1931, the Board of Governors decided to apply for an official coat of arms. Colonel Walter Brown, Secretary to the Board, who derided the present arms as designed by someone “without great artistic skill” led the charge. In 1931 he opened negotiations with the College of Arms. Some on the board wished that the new arms included only Canadian symbols but Brown objected because the stag and lion symbolized important links to Western’s history and identity.
The new arms were designed by J.D. Heaton-Armstrong, the Chester Herald at the College of Arms. He did decide to also include uniquely Canadian symbols. The lynx and moose were chosen as supporters because of their association with Canada. Maple leaves were also incorporated above the shield.
The arms were granted in April 1931 and approved by the Board without much discussion. They began to be used in 1933 to the delight of students and faculty. The Gazette wrote “ It is a matter of immense satisfaction that we now have a coat of arms and crest, not only heraldically correct but historically true.”
The Third Arms of Western
Western’s new official coat of arms saw the addition of supporters, a helmet, and a ribbon of red maple leaves. But, many familiar symbols carried over. The sun at top of the shield is now rising instead of setting, since a setting sun was seen as a bad omen. The rest of the shield is divided into four quarters like St. Andrew’s cross. The top charge is an open bible, though the current academic calendar of the university defines it as a “Book of Knowledge.” The next two charges are demi-lions which still represent Western’s second chancellor, Rev. Alfred Peache. The stag now rests at the bottom.
Students speculated on why the moose and lynx were chosen as supporters. One theory was that the moose was chosen because it is also a supporter on the arms of Ontario. The drawing of the lynx seemed similar to a fox which the Gazette called “an occult” reference to the current university president, Sherwood Fox.
This coat of arms, which was slightly modified in 2014, is still used on official university documents such as diplomas and can be seen on buildings throughout campus.
Museum Logos
Early Athletic Logos
Western has competed under the name “Mustangs” since the 1930s. Early depictions of the Mustang mascot and logo appear throughout yearbooks from the 1930s to 1950s. However, no formal logo for the Mustangs was designed until the 1960s. Most team uniforms incorporated a large “W” or the university shield.
The Bucking Mustang
By the mid 1960s, a bucking Mustang logo was designed. The first bucking Mustang logo depicted a horse kicking up dust with the text “Follow the Mustangs!” above it. By the 1980s this logo without the text or dust started to become more widespread and began to appear on uniforms, team schedules and programs for “The Annual Athletic Banquet Awards”. It was briefly retired in 1987-1988 but returned the next year. It was finally replaced in 1991 by the current Western Mustangs logo.
Current Mustangs Logo
A new Mustangs logo was designed in 1991. The bucking Mustang was replaced by one in full gallop. Overall, the Mustang also took on a friendlier look. The new logo could also be photocopied and digitally reproduced more clearly. The current logo can be found all over campus and on the uniforms of athletic teams.