- The Governor General of Canada
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Ian Leslie Macdonald
Toronto, Ontario
Grant of Arms, Flag and Badge
September 15, 2021
Vol. VIII, p. 20
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Blazon
Arms
Or a lymphad sails furled oars in action Sable flagged Gules, on a chief per saltire Sable and Argent a vesica piscis between two flaunches Or;
Crest
A red-tailed hawk wings addorsed and inverted proper grasping in its talons a plate and issuant from a coronet of maple leaves and thistles Or;
Motto
LOOK AND BEHOLD;
Symbolism
Arms
The black ship on gold is common to Macdonald coats of arms as an indication of the historical title of Lord of the Isles. For Mr. Macdonald, it represents the various Scottish isles on which his ancestors were born, as well as the emigration of his ancestors from Scotland to Canada. The oval, triangles, and semi-ovals illustrate the physics of light refracted through a lens, and how an image is captured through the eyes. They symbolize Mr. Macdonald’s work as a renowned photographer, having been commissioned several times by Her Majesty The Queen.
Crest
The red-tailed hawk is a bird with which Mr. Macdonald feels a particular affinity. As a keen-eyed hunter, it also alludes to his service with the 48th Highlanders of Canada as the regiment’s photographer. The white disc symbolizes a camera’s lens and connects to the Motto. The thistles refer to Mr. Macdonald’s Scottish heritage. The maple leaves represent Canada.
Motto
This phrase identifies the purpose of a photographer.