- The Governor General of Canada
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Karim Wade Nasser
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Grant of Arms and a Flag
June 15, 2020
Vol. VII, p. 256
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Blazon
Arms
Argent a tower supported by two lions combatant, in chief an eagle volant affronty grasping a K-Slump Tester fesswise Gules;
Crest
A cedar of Lebanon proper issuant from a coronet of garbs and maple leaves Gules;
Motto
HELPING TO BUILD DREAMS;
Symbolism
Arms
White and red are the colours of Canada and are also present on the flag of Lebanon, thus representing Dr. Nasser’s adopted and native countries respectively. The tower alludes to his career as a civil and structural engineer. It also refers to the CN Tower in Toronto; Dr. Nasser developed innovative processes for building with concrete, which were first used during the Tower’s construction. The lions are a symbol of victory, and thus refer to the name Nasser, a variant of which, nasr, means “victory” in Arabic. The red lion is also a symbol of his native village of Shweir, Lebanon. By supporting the tower, the lions allude to Dr. Nasser’s career in ensuring the safety of public infrastructure, as well as to his philanthropy and support for his community. The eagle is also a symbol of victory for Dr. Nasser, in addition to being a homophone of his name, nasir meaning “eagle” in Arabic. The K-Slump Tester is a tool developed by Dr. Nasser to test the consistency of concrete and has become an industry standard.
Crest
The Cedar of Lebanon is a symbol of Dr. Nasser’s native country. The wheat sheaves are a symbol both of his adoptive province of Saskatchewan and of the University of Saskatchewan where he studied and taught. The maple leaf is a symbol of Canada.
Motto
This phrase alludes to Dr. Nasser’s own journey in pursuing his career, as well as his vocation as an educator and philanthropist helping others to achieve their fullest potential.