The Evolution of UNB Seals
Prior to the establishment of the official coat of arms, the only insignia identified with the academy was the university’s Great Seal. Below is an evolutionary timeline of the seal’s development. The UNB seal appears on all official UNB documents, such as diplomas, contracts and legal documents.
1800
1859/1864
1932
1968
1800 The original seal was created when the institution received its provincial charter as College of New Brunswick. It may be one of the oldest university seals in Canada. It was used until 1859.
1859/1864 On April 13th (’59), Legislature passed an act creating the secular, provincial University of New Brunswick. A senate appointed commitee took 5 years to come up with the design. This seal introduced UNB’s moto Sapere Aude; “Dare to be Wise.” In 1864 the seal was recast and redesigned.
1932 This version of the 1864 seal is sent to Ottawa as UNB’s coat of arms to be included in the Canadian Book of Remembrance which was placed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower. In 1996, the current UNB coat of arms was “repatriated” at a ceremony at Rideau Hall.
1968 The seal design of 1800 was refined by engraver Rudolph Ruzicka. The Latin edging is an abbreviation of Sigillum Universitatis Novi Brunsvici, stating that it is the seal of the University of New Brunswick. The biblical quote in Hebrew reads; In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of [waters]. Genesis 1:1. On the right-hand the Greek text reads; The Gospel according to St. John… "In the beginning was the Word”. The three clouds at the base of the seal were added by Ruzicka.