Arms of Martin Joseph Gilles Marceau

Blazon

Gules an alphyn rampant Or surmounting a bar wavy abased Argent;

Symbolism

Red is the colour associated with the planet Mars. Here, it represents the Roman god Mars, from which the names Martin and Marceau derive, and thus recalls Mr. Marceau’s fighting spirit and his service in the Canadian Armed Forces. Gold evokes a memory that has stayed with him: the golden bar worn by a general whose words inspired his motto. The alphyn, the name used for a medieval chess piece representing a judge (now replaced by the bishop), embodies justice and thus Mr. Marceau’s profession as a lawyer. In heraldry, the alphyn is a half-wolf, half-lion creature. Its lupine features symbolize loyalty and leadership, and reinforce its association with Mars, the wolf being the emblem of this god. Its leonine features underscore the force Mr. Marceau shows in his convictions and actions. The knot in the tail represents his strong attachment to his family, while the animal’s defensive stance reflects his desire to protect its members. The wavy band depicts a river and the boundary between the world of the living and that of the dead, commemorating the two occasions on which he came close to death and expressing his desire to be with the dying in their final moments.