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Victoria, British Columbia
Grant of Arms and Supporters
January 6, 2003
Vol. IV, p. 207
Arms of Iona Victoria Hardy (Campagnolo)BlazonAzure two pallets wavy, overall a double arched bridge Argent masoned Azure; SymbolismThe colours were chosen by Her Honour. The wavy white stripes represent both the Skeena and the Fraser, the two rivers which have most deeply influenced her life and career, and they also symbolize her two daughters. The bridge is a metaphor for bringing people together, a central part of Her Honour's personal philosophy and a major theme of her work as Lieutenant-Governor. |
CrestBlazonIssuant from a circlet Vert edged Or set with a frieze of dogwood flowers, a trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) wings elevated Argent gorged with a scarf of the MacDonald tartan proper; SymbolismHer Honour's service as the first Chancellor of the University of Northern British Columbia is marked by the use of the green and gold, the colours of the University. The dogwoods represent Her Honour's service to all of British Columbia. The trumpeter swan represents the natural heritage of the province and her own association with the conservation of the bird. The tartan scarf honours her Scots heritage, her mother's family and her great-grandfather, Finlay Murcheson, who settled on Galiano in 1882. The Murcheson family is a sept of the Clan Donald. |
MottoBlazonWITH CHANGE IS PEACE; SymbolismWITH CHANGE IS PEACE; |
SupportersBlazonDexter a female Kermode bear sinister a male Kermode bear (Ursus americanus Kermodie) both proper and gorged with a collar of red cedar Vert pendent therefrom a hurt, that to the dexter charged with an orca as styled by Tsimshian artist Roy Henry Vickers, that to the sinister charged with an eagle as styled by Haida artist Bill Reid Or, the supporters standing on a grassy mound set with Blue Camas (Camassia quamash), nodding onion (Allium cernuum) and Garry oaks (Quercus garryana) proper above barry wavy Argent and Azure; SymbolismThe Kermode bears represent a rare and unique British Columbian mammal and are one of the supporters of the arms of the University of Northern British Columbia. The bears also represent equality between the sexes, as well as the idea of the bear mother. The cedar was and remains a very important tree for First Nations and other British Columbians, and can be found throughout the province. The designs on the medallions are symbols of Her Honour's Tsimshian and Haida names given by Chief Haq be quot'o and Chief Skidegate. The compartment indicates the importance of the Pacific Ocean for British Columbia, as well as the natural and healing woodlands of Government House. The camas and nodding onion represent First Nations traditional knowledge and are found in the woodland garden at Government House. The oaks, as one of B.C.'s most unusual trees, symbolize those on the grounds of Government House and those on Galiano Island, Her Honour's birth place. |
BackgroundCanada Gazette InformationThe announcement of the letters patent was made on December 20, 2003 in Volume 137, page 3981 of the Canada Gazette.   |
Additional InformationCreator(s)Original concept of Robert D. Watt, Chief Herald of Canada, assisted by the Heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority PainterLinda Nicholson CalligrapherDoris Wionzek Recipient TypeIndividual Special DesignationLieutenant Governor |