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Celebration of the Vitality of Canadian Heraldry and the First
Twenty Years of the Canadian Heraldic Authority
Rideau Hall, Monday, May 4, 2009
I am delighted to welcome you to Rideau Hall, to this historic residence where a wide range of armorial bearings can be found, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
And what better way to mark this anniversary than with objects steeped in meaning?
I am pleased to announce that today, chains of office for Canada’s heralds of arms are being presented to Rideau Hall and to Canada.
These are beautiful enamelled pieces, crafted with care. Each medallion is unique, representing the name of the Canadian river from which the herald’s title is taken.
These chains were donated by the W. Garfield Weston Foundation, which we sincerely thank for its generosity, and which is represented here today by Mr. Roger Lindsay, Rouge Herald Extraordinary.
You will have the opportunity to admire them closely in the Tent Room later on.
I am also pleased to announce that in honour of the 20th anniversary of the Canadian Heraldic Authority, an embroidered tabard will be created for the Chief Herald of Canada.
The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada has generously agreed to sponsor the creation of this traditional heraldic garment.
This is an exciting initiative, and I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the President and Board of Directors of the Society.
These objects are a lot like Canadian heraldry itself: they are drawn from ancient traditions related to the craft of heralds, yet have very modern components that are representative of our society and its evolution.
Canada is a young country, at least in terms of recorded history. And I believe that our relative youth brings a new perspective to every sphere of activity, including the practice of a centuries-old art form like heraldry.
Consider, for example, the opportunity that women have here, in Canada, to pass down their coats of arms to their daughters, as my husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I have done with our daughter, Marie-Éden. Jean-Daniel’s daughters and granddaughters have also received coats of arms.
When you consider that, in many regions of the world, the practice of handing down such symbols is still reserved for men, passing from father to son, what we are doing here in Canada is unique and highly commendable.
It should also be noted that the same criteria apply to women and men, regardless of gender, in the design of arms, which is not necessarily the case elsewhere.
Equality between women and men is a constitutional value in Canada. It defines the way we live and the way we think about the world.
It should come as no surprise, then, that equality forms an integral part of our symbolic universe and our system of emblems.
I would be remiss if I did not also mention the fact that a woman, Claire Boudreau, is in charge of the Canadian Heraldic Authority. She is the only woman in the Commonwealth to hold such a position, and I am very proud of this.
Women also hold or have held the positions of Fraser Herald, Coppermine Herald, Saguenay Herald and Miramichi Herald, and many other women are part of the team as artists or calligraphers.
Canada can feel proud for having opened these traditional jobs to women.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of the past and present heralds, women and men, to whom we owe Canada’s reputation for excellence and innovative spirit within the broader international heraldic community.
And let us also celebrate the work of all of the trailblazers who believed in Canada’s ability to represent itself in symbols and to affirm its national identity.
Among these builders are the artists who, over the past 20 years, have allowed Canadian heraldry to flourish and to distinguish itself, not only in Canada, but beyond our borders as well.
The representation of arms is truly an art and, in Canada, it is born of the talent of artists and calligraphers who do the work by hand. The quality of our heraldry is lauded, and with good reason.
Like other art forms, heraldry satisfies a basic need: that of expressing our views, where we are from, and where we are going.
It is a need that transcends ages, borders and generations.
From marking the skin with paint or henna in a number of societies, to the resurgence of tattooing and the language of graffiti among youth today, the need to express one’s uniqueness remains the same.
In this sense, heraldry is remarkably current.
You can see it in the enthusiastic response from children and youth whom our heralds meet in schools.
Not only is there the chivalrous side of heraldry, which immediately captures their imagination, but there is also the opportunity that it gives them to ask themselves some essential—and frankly, existential—questions.
Who am I?
What are the values, beliefs, choices that define me?
How can I express them in symbols?
Heraldry, with its centuries of rich history, allows young and old alike to mark their place in time and follow in the footsteps of those who have come before.
And that is extremely important.
Particularly in this age of instant access, when everything is captured on the spot and broadcast live—without any possibility of taking it back.
Because heraldry allows us to look beyond the straight line of the present and see things from a wider, historical perspective and to put down roots in a memory.
In essence, heraldry gives us both roots and wings.
And yet, there are still far too many people who know nothing about heraldry, and I must admit that even I was only vaguely familiar with it prior to my installation as governor general of Canada.
As head of the Canadian Heraldic Authority, by virtue of my position, I had the great privilege of creating my own coat of arms in collaboration with the heralds and of delving deeper into this art that is truly a science.
I have lasting and fond memories of our conversations with Robert Watt, former chief herald of Canada, and Claire Boudreau, who accompanied me on this journey inside and through time.
Under their guidance, I revisited my history, from my childhood in Haiti to my settlement in Canada.
My arms reflect my roots and my sense of belonging, but also my most deeply held beliefs, what I hope to accomplish during my mandate, and the legacy that I want to leave to the country that welcomed me with open arms.
This unique contemplation was very emotional for me.
And I have since been able to share those emotions with many people.
With my husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, who was also asked to create his arms and pass them on to his descendants.
With the units at National Defence, for which I approve all insignia.
With more than 100 people who are passionate about history, who came from around the world last June to the City of Québec to attend the XXVIIIth International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences, an event for which I was the patron.
With bodies like the Royal Military College Saint-Jean, the Federal Court and the Canadian Nurses Association, to which I had the pleasure of officially presenting their armorial bearings last year.
And, last year, with Aboriginal women from across Canada, on International Women’s Day.
These women had been invited by the Chief Herald of Canada to bring with them an emblem or symbol that represents them and their communities.
We sat in a circle, and in that atmosphere conducive to dialogue, they opened their hearts and revealed themselves, little by little. That is a memory I will always cherish.
Heraldry pushes us to undertake a search for meaning that goes to the very heart of the work of our heralds and inspires their art.
Today, we are celebrating 20 years of passion, commitment and skill in the service of Canadian heraldry.
At age 20, the future is wide open.
And so it is with the certainty of a promising future that I offer you my sincerest congratulations as you celebrate this anniversary.
Long live the Canadian Heraldic Authority!