Peterborough County Logo

In 2015 County Council adopted a new County Logo. 

The overall design is simple but memorable, each image chosen reflects distinctive qualities of Peterborough County: 

• Birds: Movement, flight, freedom, migration, the north, water, Kawartha Lakes 
• Wheat: Agriculture – Red Fife wheat 
• Grasses: Marshlands, water, nature, environment 

The Corporate Logo was created to strengthen Peterborough County’s corporate image and influence perceptions of the “County” through consistent presentation in print, visual and internet communications.  

History of the County Crest: 

The County of Peterborough crest featured was created in the 1960’s. (Although we became the County of Peterborough in 1850, the crest was designed 110 years later!). Since the design of the crest, the County has continued to undergo amalgamations and changes, but the crest still identifies and symbolizes the main elements of our County. 

First, the 16 maple leaves surrounding the crest represent the 16 townships that made up the County of Peterborough at that time (in alphabetical order: Asphodel, Belmont, Cavendish, Douro, Dummer, Ennismore, Galway, Harvey, Havelock, Lakefield, Methuen, North Kawartha, Norwood, Otonabee, Smith, South Monaghan). Cavan Millbrook North Monaghan Township joined us in 1974. The townships have now amalgamated into 8 separate townships within the County (Asphodel-Norwood, Cavan Monaghan, Douro-Dummer, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, North Kawartha, Otonabee-South Monaghan, Selwyn and Trent Lakes). 

The Irish thistles in the top corners of the crest represent the Irish immigrants that settled this area. In 1825, Peter Robinson (member of Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada) had arranged for 2,000 Irish to settle in Scott’s Plains as part of an experimental emigration plan. Scott’s Plains was later named Peterborough in Robinson’s honour. Peterborough was incorporated as a town in 1850 (population 2,191). 

The four pictures or emblems within the crest represent the four major highlights, if you will, of our County. We are known for our hunting and wildlife (the stag), fresh water lakes and fishing (the fish), our agriculture (sheaf of wheat) and the Peterborough Liftlocks.  

The crown at the top of the crest is the King’s crown. We’re not sure why the King’s crown was chosen, since the Queen was actually ruling at the time. Perhaps the artist was only familiar with drawing the king’s crown. 

The banner along the bottom, of course, provides artistic opportunity in keeping with crests to title it as the County of Peterborough crest. 

For ceremonial purposes, flags and official ceremonies, the traditional County of Peterborough crest will continue to be utilized and displayed.