The Icons - the Seagull, the Flag and the Official Flower.

 

In modern usage, the meaning of icon now includes a broad range of imagery beyond its original portraitures of religious significance.  Lions Bay has three icons - the Seagull, the Flag, and the Flower. All three are symbolic of "our sense of place --- in harmony with nature".

 

The Seagull 

The Seagull as an emblem was first used in the '50s and '60s on the masthead of a newsletter published by Lions Bay Development Limited, a company promoting the sale of lots in the tiny hamlet of Lions Bay in the "boonies" far from the city. In 1969 the then Lions Bay Property Owners Association undertook the publication of the first community newspaper, and 'presto', the chosen name was SEAGULL, adorned with the adopted if not necessarily well-liked bird.

 

The Flag of Lions Bay 

In 1996, Lions Bay entered into a celebration of its 25th Anniversary as a Village Municipality. One of the themes of the "Spirit of '96" was a Flag Competition, sponsored by the Historical Society. The result is the Flag, designed by Victor Miles, that flies atop its flagpole at the Village Office, and that appears on Municipal documents, and on our Parking stickers. It is a symbol that reminds us of the mountains that give name to our place, that tells us of the ever-present ocean and the birds that conquer the air above.

 

Lions Bay's Official Flower Aquilegia Formosa - Western Columbine 

The Western Columbine became Lions Bay's Official Flower in 1996, during the "Spirit of  '96" Celebrations of our 25th anniversary as a Village Municipality. This floral emblem was chosen as an example of  our very attractive native flora. You may remember the banners depicting this painted by Mary Comber Miles twelve years ago as one of the participating Village artists in our highly popular "Banner Event". Mary writes:

 

"Columbine refers to a dove. Formosa means comely or beautiful. Of the suitability of its given names to describe the flower there can be no doubt.

 

"Five coral-red spurs arch backward to resemble perched doves, these above yellow petals from which hang a yellow 'bush' of stamens and styles.  These pendant flowers have slim greenish-red stems with occasional distinctive delicate light green leaves twice divided into three. More leaves grow from the base.

 

"Alongside our highway and paths within the Village we can often see it attracting hummingbirds and butterflies. It is also a very worthy garden plant which freely self seeds.

"Our flower differs from the Eastern Columbine Aquilegia canadensis in that its flowers spread like a full skirt with a yellow petticoat, unlike the eastern narrow bell-like flower".