- The Governor General of Canada
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Anita Ruth Neville
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Grant of Arms and Supporters, with differences to Sarah Elizabeth Neville, Elissa Anne Neville and Jessica Margaret Neville
July 15, 2025
Vol. VIII, p. 403
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Blazon
Arms
Per bend whorled Argent and Azure;
Crest
A menorah Argent enflamed Or between two prairie crocuses proper;
Supporters
Two female polar bears proper each charged on the shoulder with a hurt that to the dexter charged with a quill, that to the sinister with a rolled scroll both palewise Argent, both standing on a wooden pier issuant from water proper;
Motto
WHAT IF NOT FOR OTHERS;
Symbolism
Arms
The shield is divided in two equal parts to embody justice and balance, values for which Her Honour has worked throughout her career. The central composition illustrates the process of cultural and community fusion that leads to the creation of a new and distinct identity, similar to that which Her Honour’s own family experienced when it immigrated to Canada. It is both a reflection of Her Honour’s personal life experience and of her role as lieutenant governor of Manitoba.
Crest
The menorah represents the central place of the Jewish faith in Her Honour’s life. As the provincial flower of Manitoba, the prairie crocus is an additional reference to her position as lieutenant governor.
Supporters
The polar bear is commonly found in the north of Her Honour’s home province of Manitoba. The females are known to be particularly attentive to their cubs, which underscores the importance that Her Honour places on her family. The wooden pier is characteristic of Lake Winnipeg, a place holding many fond lifetime memories and where Her Honour has a cottage. The waters refer to the junction of the three major rivers that have shaped the history and development of her hometown of Winnipeg: the Red, the Assiniboine and the Winnipeg. The feather and the scroll symbolize Her Honour’s commitment to education.
Motto
This sentiment is inspired by a saying of the Jewish scholar Hillel the Elder: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, who am I? And if not now, when?” It encapsulates Her Honour’s work in championing many human rights causes throughout her career, especially regarding Indigenous and women’s rights.