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St. Catharines, Ontario
Grant of Arms, Flag and Badge, with differences to James Robert Cairns and Matthew Andrew Cairns
August 15, 2005
Vol. IV, p. 515
Arms of Jeffrey Robert CairnsBlazonPer fess wavy Gules and Azure overall three chevronels interlaced, in chief three martlets Or; SymbolismThe chevronels allude to the idea of the name “Cairns,” a cairn being a pile of items stacked together. They also represent the three males in the family, as well as belief in the Holy Trinity. The blue wavy base represents the importance in the life of Mr. Cairns of his experiences at Balsam Lake in the Kawarthas region in Ontario by using the chevronels to represent stylised wave crests on the blue lake. In addition, red and blue are the regimental colours of The Lincoln and Welland Regiment. The gold martlets on a red field are traditional elements associated with other designs for Cairns found in ordinaries of arms. |
CrestBlazonAnd upon a helmet mantled Gules doubled Or within a wreath of these colours, this Crest: Issuant from a coronet of maple leaves and trillium flowers Or, a demi-dragon Gules grasping in its dexter claw a sword Or and charged on the shoulder with an escallop Argent; SymbolismThe demi-dragon alludes to the family origins of both parents of Mr. Cairns. His mother’s family comes from Wales, while his father’s comes from the City of Dundee, Scotland, which has two dragons as supporters. The coronet signals the honour of being appointed Aide-de-Camp to several Lieutenant-Governors of the Province of Ontario. The sword is held point upwards, representing active service in the armed forces of Canada. The escallop, shown in the position of a “shoulder patch,” represents the service of both Mr. Cairns and his grandfather to The Lincoln and Welland Regiment, the former having been the Commanding Officer of the regiment. |
MottoBlazonNON SIBI SED PATRIÆ; SymbolismNON SIBI SED PATRIAE means “Not for one’s self but for the country.” The motto is from that of John Graves Simcoe, from which also the motto of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment is derived. |
Flag of Jeffrey Robert CairnsBlazonA banner of the Arms; SymbolismThe symbolism of this emblem is found in other element(s) of this record. |
Badge of Jeffrey Robert CairnsBlazonAn escallop Argent ensigned by a coronet erablé Or; SymbolismThe symbolism of this emblem is found in other element(s) of this record. |
Differenced Arms for James Robert Cairns, son of Jeffrey Robert CairnsBlazonThe Arms of Jeffrey Roberts Cairns debruised of a three-point label Or; this individual will inherit the Arms of the Recipient following his or her death; SymbolismJames Robert Cairns, as heraldic heir-designate, bears his father’s arms differenced by a gold label during his father’s lifetime. James’ favourite colour of blue appears in the base area. |
Differenced Arms for Matthew Andrew Cairns, son of Jeffrey Robert CairnsBlazonThe Arms of Jeffrey Roberts Cairns within a bordure Or; SymbolismMatthew Andrew Cairns bears his father’s arms within a gold border. Matthew’s favourite colour of red appears in the top area. |
BackgroundCanada Gazette InformationThe announcement of the letters patent was made on March 4, 2006 in Volume 140, page 430 of the Canada Gazette.  |
Additional InformationCreator(s)Original concept of Darrel Kennedy, Assiniboine Herald, assisted by the Heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority. PainterRobert Grey CalligrapherShirley Mangione Recipient TypeIndividual |