- The Governor General of Canada
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The County of Bruce
Walkerton, Ontario
Registration of Arms
October 20, 2023
Vol. VIII, p. 215
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Blazon
Arms
Or a sprig of three maple leaves Vert surmounted by a saltire Gules, on a chief Argent dexter a lion rampant Azure sinister a cross dimidiated at the palar line Gules;
The Arms are ensigned by a coronet of eight points Vert alternating with garbs, its rim charged with eight maple leaves bendwise Or;
Motto
IN DEO IMPERIUM SED POPULUS ADMINISTRAT;
Symbolism
Arms
This design merges the arms of Ontario with those of the county’s namesake, James Bruce, Earl of Elgin, Governor General of the Province of Canada. Lord Elgin’s arms were gold with a red saltire and a blue lion, while the sprig of maple and the red cross are from the provincial arms.
The coronet of points and garbs of wheat was used in Scottish heraldry to denote a county, with maple leaves as a Canadian reference.
Motto
This Latin phrase is commonly translated as “Administration by the people, but under the authority of God.”