- The Governor General of Canada
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John Carnell Crosbie
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Grant of Arms and Supporters
May 15, 2009
Vol. V, p. 447
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Blazon
Arms
Gules on a cross between in dexter chief and sinister base an escallop and in sinister chief and dexter base a mascle Or, a lymphad Sable its sail Argent its flags Gules;
Crest
A dexter mailed fist proper holding a Latin cross Or;
Supporters
Two harp seals proper each charged on the shoulder with a torteau bearing a balance Or and standing on a carpet Vert;
Motto
TENDO AD ASTRA;
Symbolism
Arms
These are the arms designed for His Honour’s brother Andrew Crosbie in 1970, with the border of a second son removed to show His Honour’s senior place in the family. The yellow cross on red is the basic coat of arms of the Crosbies of Dumfries in the Scottish border region, the prominent cross making a pun on the name Crosbie. The shells are taken from Scottish Graham arms and mark the Graham ancestry of the family. The diamond shapes mark the family’s mercantile endeavours, and the ship indicates the shipping and fish export aspects of the family firm, Crosbie and Company, founded by His Honour’s grandfather, Sir John Chalker Crosbie.
Crest
This was originally designed for Andrew Crosbie, and provides another pun on the surname.
Supporters
The harp seals mark the importance of seals and the seal hunt to the Crosbie family business. The seal hunt has been a significant part of the Newfoundland and Labrador economy that His Honour vigorously defended during his years in public life. The balances, or scales of justice, mark his profession as a lawyer. The green carpet marks his service in the Newfoundland House of Assembly (1966-1976) and the House of Commons of Canada (1976-1993). Green is the traditional colour of lower houses of parliament.
Motto
This Latin motto, originally assigned to Andrew Crosbie, means “I aim for the stars”.