- The Governor General of Canada
The contents of this Register are intended for research purposes only. The heraldic emblems found in the Register may not be reproduced in any form or in any media without the written consent of the Canadian Heraldic Authority and/or the recipient.
Jean-Paul Valéran Gauthier
Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
Grant of Arms, Flag and Badge, with differences to Tristan Kyosh Osei-Akoto Gauthier
May 15, 2008
Vol. V, p. 283
[ previous page ]
Blazon
Arms
Azure a cross flory between four alerions Or;
Crest
A lion’s head Or wearing an ancient crown all between two sweet grass plants Azure;
Motto
DE DEU AIEZ VERTUT;
Symbolism
Arms
Blue represents Mr. Gauthier’s Quebec and Scottish heritage. It is also the main colour of the schools he has attended: the Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf and the Collège Notre-Dame in Montreal; the Université de Montréal; John's Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; and of the World Bank, his current employer. The cross indicates his Christian faith, and the fleur-de-lis endings, besides being symbols of Quebec and of French heritage, refer to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Alerions appear on the arms of the Hélori de Kermartin family, one of whose members, Yves (1253-1303), is the patron saint of lawyers. Their presence indicates Mr. Gauthier’s profession as a lawyer and his involvement in the Union Internationale des Juristes Catholiques. Alerions are also associated with Godfrey of Bouillon, the leader of the first Crusade and the guardian of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre; in this way, they also allude to Mr. Gauthier’s membership in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
Crest
The crowned lion’s head is based on the crest of the chief of the Clan MacGregor, and thus marks the heritage of Mr. Gauthier’s wife, Kofoworola Durojaiye MacGregor, and their membership in the Clan Gregor association. The sweetgrass is a New World plant marking Mr. Gauthier’s life in North America.
Motto
DE DEU AIEZ VERTUT, meaning “God keep you in valour”, is an Old French phrase from the 12th-century poem La Chanson de Roland (LXXXII, line 1045).