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Vancouver, British Columbia
Grant of Arms
March 25, 2009
Vol. V, p. 432
Arms of John Michael MillerBlazonArgent an open book proper bound Gules edged Or, on a chief dancetty Gules a dove reguardant Argent between a rose and a Pacific dogwood flower both Argent barbed and seeded proper; SymbolismThe book symbolizes the Word of God, which a bishop must proclaim and teach. It also recalls the task of education, to which Archbishop Miller has dedicated himself as a teacher, a university president, the Secretary of the Congregation for Education at the Holy See, and as an archbishop responsible for Catholic schools. A book also appears in the arms of the Congregation of St. Basil, of which the Archbishop is a member. The division line symbolizes the mountainous landscape of the Archdiocese of Vancouver. The dove is a symbol of St. Thomas Aquinas, patron of theologians, and it appears in the arms of the University of St. Thomas, Houston, Texas, of which Archbishop Miller was president. The rose represents Our Lady of the Rosary, patroness of the Archdiocese of Vancouver and its cathedral. The dogwood is the provincial flower of British Columbia. |
MottoBlazonVERITATI SERVIRE; SymbolismVERITATI SERVIRE, a Latin phrase meaning “To serve the truth”, was adopted by Archbishop Miller when he became a bishop in 2003. |
BackgroundCanada Gazette InformationThe announcement of the letters patent was made on December 12, 2009 in Volume 143, page 3681 of the Canada Gazette.   |
Additional InformationCreator(s)Original concept of Gordon Macpherson, Niagara Herald Extraordinary, assisted by the heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority. PainterGordon Macpherson CalligrapherDoris Wionzek Recipient TypeIndividual |