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Ottawa, Ontario
Grant of Arms and Badge
October 20, 2005
Vol. V, p. 3
Arms of Bruce Kenneth PattersonBlazonGyronny Gules and Argent, a cross gyronny counterchanged; SymbolismRed and white are the national colours of Canada. The cross indicates the centrality of the Christian faith in Mr. Patterson’s life; it can also represent the Anglican church and his high school, St. George’s College, Toronto. The saltire division lines allude to the saltire crosses of the arms of St. Patrick, the patron of Ireland, St. Andrew, the patron of Scotland, and St. Alban, the patron of the church in Toronto where Mr. Patterson received the sacrament of confirmation. |
CrestBlazonA demi-panther guardant Gules incensed proper semé of cinquefoils, grasping in the dexter paw a fire-steel Or; SymbolismThe panther is a particularly heraldic creature, and thus refers to Mr. Patterson’s interest in the subject and to his work as a herald. The pimpernel flowers indicate Mr. Patterson’s ancestry in Northern Ireland, as they have been used on recent British coinage as a symbol of that province. The fire-steel represents Mr. Patterson’s original career as a teacher; as flames symbolize learning, the fire-steel can therefore indicate the act of “sparking” knowledge. The panther’s flames, traditionally meant to indicate its sweet voice, can here refer to Mr. Patterson’s love of vocal music. The panther is a benevolent creature and the enemy of the dragon, and is thus an appropriate Christian symbol. |
MottoBlazonLET MY COUNSEL BE A KINDLY LIGHT; SymbolismThis sentence is based on the phrase “His counsel was a kindly light to men perplexed” from the memorial tablet to Mr. Patterson’s great-grandfather, the Reverend John Brown Lusk, in the Presbyterian church in Glasgar, County Down, Ireland. This was written by the noted mediaeval scholar Helen Waddell, a friend of Mr. Lusk’s. Here it can also refer to the flames in the crest and Mr. Patterson’s desire to teach and guide with wisdom. |
Badge of Bruce Kenneth PattersonBlazonOn a roundel per pale Gules and Sable a pelican in its piety Argent beaked and nested Or; SymbolismRed and black are the colours of Trinity College, Toronto, Mr. Patterson’s alma mater. The heraldic pelican is a Christian symbol of sacrifice often used by Patterson armigers. |
BackgroundCanada Gazette InformationThe announcement of the letters patent was made on July 8, 2006 in Volume 140, page 2040 of the Canada Gazette.   |
Additional InformationCreator(s)Original concept of Bruce Patterson, Saguenay Herald, assisted by the Heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority PainterGordon Macpherson CalligrapherNancy Ellis Recipient TypeIndividual |