- The Governor General of Canada
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Whitney Grant Fraser
Ottawa, Ontario
Grant of Arms and Supporters, with differences to Rhonda Michele Patterson, Dianne Marie Panarella and Whitney Howard Fraser
March 15, 2024
Vol. VIII, p. 264
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Blazon
Arms
Azure a cinquefoil within a pentagon reversed voided conjoined with a chevron Argent;
Crest
A bald eagle wings displayed and inverted affronty standing on a bed of spruce twigs proper;
Supporters
Two narwhals proper each gorged of a collar Azure pendent therefrom a hurt charged that to the dexter with a microphone that to the sinister with a pen nib Argent, each rising from barry wavy Argent and Azure on either side of a rocky mount set with strawberry and blueberry patches proper;
Motto
STAND FAST • READY;
Symbolism
Arms
Blue and white are the colours of the flags of Nova Scotia, His Excellency’s birthplace, and Scotland, his ancestors’ country of origin. The central design evokes a microphone to represent his career in broadcasting and journalism. It merges a cut-diamond shape, symbolizing clarity of mind and purity of heart, and a chevron, a metaphor for steadfastness. This many-angled shape alludes to His Excellency’s career, which led him on a life-long journey to explore all parts of Canada – including much of its northern territories – and observe the interconnectedness and interdependence of its peoples and elements. The stylized flower, used in the arms of many Fraser families, makes a canting reference to his surname, which is derived from the French word for “strawberry plant.” The five petals of the flower represent him with his four children: Rhonda, the late Sonia, Dianne and Whitney.
Crest
The eagle, known for its strength and piercing vision, holds special significance for His Excellency, who has often seen one on transformative occasions in his life. Its wings, open in a protective stance, signify his role as father and spouse as well as the importance of family and life. The twigs of spruce, Nova Scotia’s tree emblem, honour His Excellency’s ancestral ties to that province extending back for many generations.
Supporters
To His Excellency, the narwhals, which are unique to the Arctic, are one of the most beautiful marine species. They are known for being intelligent, sociable and in tune with the environment. The microphone and pen nib represent his career as a broadcaster and as a print journalist and writer. The strawberries, whose flower is the emblem of the Fraser Clan, represent his own children, while the blueberries are for the children of his wife Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary May Simon, Governor General of Canada.
Motto
This phrase combines the mottoes of the Scottish clans Grant (“Stand fast”), representing his maternal line, and Fraser (Je suis prest, a French phrase meaning “I am ready”), for his paternal ancestry.