Arms of Léon Ghislain Joseph Gilissen

Blazon

Argent a heart Gules winged Sable issuant therefrom a thistle proper, a chief chequy Argent and Gules;

Symbolism

White represents order and justice, and is thus symbolic of the field to which Mr. Gilissen devoted his career as a police officer. The chequerboard pattern, shown in the colours of Canada, his adopted country, illustrates the multitude and diversity of his ancestors. The heart symbolizes Mr. Gilissen’s love for genealogy, a quest which suggests his forebears migrated to Belgium from Scotland, and from Scandinavia prior to that. The thistle is the emblem of Scotland, while the wings represent both the family’s travels and its ancient Nordic roots, the raven being a recurrent theme in Scandinavian mythology. The combination consisting of a heart with a flower and wings is inspired by other arms used by Gilissen families. There is speculation that the heart was an indication of British origins and that the wings referred to the family’s flight during the turmoil that shook the Spanish Netherlands in the 16th century.