How Canada Became Home to Some of the World's More Visually Stunning
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HOW CANADA BECAME HOME TO SOME OF THE WORLD’S MORE VISUALLY STUNNING - AND FUN - HERALDRY Tristin Hopper Wong kung Har Wun Sun Association Toronto (Ontario) shields, Canada’s badges and coats of arms abound with bison mer- maids, flying polar bears, fire-breathing Chinese dragons and First Preliminary artwork for an official, accredited municipal coat of arms for the Nations monsters — all tossed together in whimsical scenes of fire, City of Sault Ste. Marie ice and glory. Earlier this week, the citizens of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., got their first ‘‘If people are willing, we’ll be wild, if they want to be con- look at the city’s new coat of arms. It had all the typical elements of servative we’ll be conservative, but we’re not short of ideas,” said a medieval coat of arms, but this was clearly no European design. Chief Herald of Canada Claire Boudreau. “I know that what we do The motto is in Ojibway, a rugged-looking fur trading post tops is above any standard that I’ve seen internationally. I can say we’re the design and the shield is flanked by two timber wolves, both of the top; on that I have no question or hesitation.” whom are oddly clutching steelworker’s tools For most of Canadian history, any citizen wanting a coat of Canada may have put a leaf on its flag and picked a beaver for arms had to go through the rigorous process of appealing to the its national animal, but along the way it became home to some of the 500-year-old College of Arms in London. That all changed in 1988 world’s most visually stunning heraldry. While other countries may stick to lions, unicorns and medieval Quebec City Ballet Arms Federal Court, Ottawa (Ontario) Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants Claire Boudreau, Ottawa (Ontario) when Canada—at the urging of the country’s heraldic enthusiasts — nology studies.” successfully patriated all heraldry control from the U.K. The Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants chose to Overnight, an art once limited to medieval nobility was within feature two winged polar bears. The wings stand for migration, but reach of any Canadian with about $2,000 and a sufficiently clean the ferocious bears stand for “protecting the standards of the immi- criminal record. In the words of the now 26-year-old Canadian He- gration profession.” raldic Authority, it exists to “ensure that all Canadians who wish to Even the Federal Court of Canada opted for elaborate mon- use heraldry will have access to it.” sters: The winged sea caribou, a creature with a caribou head, a salm- Much of this “wildness” comes in the form of consistently odd on tail and raven wings and talons. The fearsome beast represents fauna choices. the court’s involvement in aviation and maritime law. The Quebec City Ballet features a pair of “half-swan, half-ga- At Heraldic Authority headquarters just down the street from zelle” hybrids for its coat of arms. The Royal St. John’s Regatta Rideau Hall, Ms. Boudreau oversees a small staff of “Heralds of chose a pair of caribou mermaids. Arms” tasked with churning out Canada’s robust annual production Winnipeger Philip Lee also opted for unusual mermaids; a bi- of new heraldry. son-mermaid on the left and a dragon-mermaid on the right. As an “We’re a official description reads, the fishtail bottoms of the two creatures young team, are meant to symbolize Mr. Lee’s skills in “water research and lim- we’re totally enthusiastic about what we do, and it shows,” she said. Half the authority’s applications come from the standard stable of her- aldry adopt- ers such as military reg- iments and universities, but the other half comes from civil- ians: Normal Canadians simply look- ing to work Norman Lim Kwong, Edmonton (Alberta) with a herald The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada, Ottawa (Ontario) on drawing up features a stern narwhal a family coat of paired alongside an arms. equally stern beaver. It is this The Nunavut coat democratization of arms, like many of Canadian others, also employs heraldry that echoes of Aboriginal often yields its elements — another most colourful feature of Canadian results. heraldry. “We say Canada “is the ‘go for it, mix only country, as far as I three animals, know, which embraces we’ll make it emblems from other beautiful’ — cultures,” wrote Royal it won’t look Heraldry Society of weird or tacky, Canada member David it will just look M. Cvet in an email to amazing,” said the National Post. Ms. Boudreau. The mottos fea- The Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee, St. John’s Territory of Nunavut, Iqaluit (Nunavut) (Newfoundland) “It will be more tured on Canadian poetic; you mix a horse with a dove and the result speaks more to you.” coats of arms range from Polish to Hungarian to Inutitut, and the To honour his Chinese heritage and Alberta home, former Al- designs abound with Chinese and First Nations design elements. berta Lt. Governor Norman Lim Kwong opted for a pair of half The Canadian Muse- dragon, half Albertosaurus creatures — along with a trio of foot- um of Civilization, prom- balls to denote his 1950s CFL career. inently, featured mythical Ms. Boudreau’s own coat of arms features a pair of rain- designs influenced by ab- bow-coloured panthers breathing fire. For good measure, the design original artist Norval Mor- is topped by a third fire-breathing monster endowed with the “body risseau. Whitehorse, Yu- of a lion, a horse’s head with horns, a griffin’s forelegs and a lion’s kon’s Judy Gingell, mean- hind legs.” while, obtained a coat of “This diversified nature makes it a symbol of tolerance and of arms in 1998 featuring two the spirit of adventure by which alone the frontiers of the unknown Tlingit figures done up in can be pushed Northwest Coast style. back,” reads the There are limits, of accompanying course. Heralds are bound description. to maintain some consis- David B. tency of design — and they Appleton with have to maintain dignity of the Royal Her- the overall heraldic registry. aldry Society of Philip Siu Lun Lee, Winnipeg (Manitoba) More than 20 years Canada, agreed ago, Major-General Rich- that the Cana- ard Rohmer, one of Canada’s most decorated citizens, when choos- dian Heraldic ing a motto for his Authority’s “ac- coat of arms origi- ceptance of un- nally wanted a loose usual fauna … Latin variation of in Canada than the phrase “always is usually seen in in the s—.” the other heral- At the urging dic authorities.” of heraldic author- Proba- ities, he eventually bly the most downgraded it to uniquely Cana- the more Quixot- dian heraldic ic “Ad Proximum The Corporation of the City of White Rock, feature is the Ventum Pistri- White Rock (British Columbia) narwhal, the num.” Arctic whale characterized by its long, spiraling tusk. Translated: Although it can be tricky to pose the 100 kg marine mammals On to the next into any kind of regal position, several prominent bodies have been windmill. unable to resist adopting the creature as a kind of Canadian unicorn. A narwhal balanced on its hind flippers features prominently on This article origi- the Nunavut coat of arms. The Northwest Territories similarly opted nally appeared on- line at the National for a pair of demure golden narwhals on top of its heraldic shield Post’s website - www. and even the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada’s own coat of arms nationalpost.com - Edna Agnes Elias, Iqaluit (Nunavut).