- The Governor General of Canada
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Alan Bruce Clark
Finch, Ontario
Grant of Arms, Flag and Badge, with differences to Isla Madge Clark
February 20, 2025
Vol. VIII, p. 358
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Blazon
Arms
Per saltire Azure and Gules, in chief a bagpipe in base a three-masted ship and in each flank a poppy slipped and leaved Or;
Crest
A great horned owl its head to the dexter proper, grasping in its sinister claw a quill Or, its shaft Azure, issuant from a coronet of thistles, maple leaves and shamrocks Or;
Motto
FORTITUDO;
Symbolism
Arms
Navy blue and burgundy are the colours of the Ceremonial Guard, the military unit for which Mr. Clark has been the Pipe Major for many years. The field is divided in an X-shape to represent the Scottish cross of St. Andrew and the Irish cross of St. Patrick, thereby alluding to Mr. Clark’s ancestral origins. The bagpipe embodies his career as a bagpipe player and teacher. The poppies refer to his military career and his experiences of performing for numerous commemorative ceremonies. The galleon evokes the ship Protector on which his Irish ancestors sailed to Canada in 1834.
Crest
The owl is a bird for which Mr. Clark has always felt a particular affinity. The quill is a canting reference to Mr. Clark’s surname, derived from the Irish word for "clerk," i.e. scholar. It further evokes the idea of musical composition, thus referring to Mr. Clark’s profession. The thistles and shamrocks allude to his Scottish and Irish ancestry respectively, while the maple leaves evoke the pride he feels in Canada.
Motto
This Latin word, meaning “Fortitude,” expresses a value dear to Mr. Clark.