Symbolism and Use
The current arms of the Authority were confirmed in a warrant by the Governor General on 15 January 1994, in honour of the Authority's fifth anniversary, which was celebrated the previous year. The full armorial bearings of the Canadian Heraldic Authority incorporate aboriginal symbolism, as seen in the mythical raven-bears, as well as the national symbol of the maple leaf, and the traditional Canadian colours of red and white, which were made official by King George V in 1921.
The crest is a modification of the Royal Crest of Canada: a lion, wearing a crown, bearing a maple leaf. The crest of the Authority features the same lion, instead holding a white shield containing a red maple leaf, symbolising the Governor General's authority under the Crown to grant armorial bearings to Canadians.
The shield itself is white with a red maple leaf, similar to the middle portion of the Canadian flag. The white shield upon the leaf represents "a sign of heraldry to be created and recorded for Canadians."
The raven-bears, a new heraldic beast which combined several creatures that are important to aboriginal symbolism, were proposed by the heralds in honour of the United Nations' International Year of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, also occurring in 1993. The raven-bears are standing on an outcrop of what is known as the Canadian Shield, a geological formation which the Authority foundation is based on. The Canadian Shield is formed by rocks, which are covered in red coloured maple leaves and by golden maple seeds. The motto that was chosen is Latin for Let us honour those who honour our country.
The shield and crest alone comprise the Badge of the Authority, which is used on the seal of the Authority and on the letters patent that grant and register armorial bearings. A wreath behind the arms is composed of red maple leaves bound with gold straps.
Read more about this topic: Canadian Heraldic Authority, The Authority's Armorial Bearings
Famous quotes containing the word symbolism:
“...I remembered the rose bush that had reached a thorny branch out through the ragged fence, and caught my dress, detaining me when I would have passed on. And again the symbolism of it all came over me. These memories and visions of the poor—they were the clutch of the thorns. Social workers have all felt it. It holds them to their work, because the thorns curve backward, and one cannot pull away.”
—Albion Fellows Bacon (1865–1933)