- The Governor General of Canada
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The Sir John A. Macdonald Historical Society
Vancouver, British Columbia
Grant of Arms, Supporters, Flag and Badges
August 20, 2010
Vol. V, p. 538
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Blazon
Arms
Quarterly, 1st Argent a lion rampant Gules, 2nd Or a dexter hand couped fesswise proper holding a cross-crosslet fitché Azure, 3rd Or a lymphad sails furled and oars in action Sable flagged Gules, 4th barry wavy Argent and Azure a salmon naiant proper, overall on a fess bretessed Vert a maple leaf Or between two dogwood flowers Argent seeded Or;
Crest
A dexter hand in armour fesswise proper holding a cross-crosslet fitché Gules issuant from a circlet of dogwood flowers Argent seeded Or;
Supporters
Two mermaids proper issuant from barry wavy Azure and Or;
Motto
ADHERE TO THE UNION;
Symbolism
Arms
The design is based on the arms granted by the Lord Lyon King of Arms in 1970 in memory of Sir John A. Macdonald, composed of the arms of the chief of Clan Macdonald of Sleat with the addition of a green fess. Here, the fess features two dogwood flowers, the floral emblem of British Columbia, and a maple leaf for Canada. The shape of the fess resembles railway tracks and ties, thus representing Macdonald’s great legacy, the transcontinental railway, which was especially important for British Columbia.
Crest
The hand and cross crest of the chief of Macdonald of Sleat was used by Sir John A. Macdonald. The dogwood flowers make the crest unique to the Society.
Supporters
Mermaids symbolize eloquence and thus the Society’s mandate in hosting an annual dinner featuring a speech by a prominent Canadian. The yellow and blue stylized water indicates the setting sun over the Pacific Ocean.
Motto
This phrase is taken from a speech delivered in 1861 by Sir John A. Macdonald and refers to Canadian unity: “Whatever you do, adhere to the union. We are a great country, and shall become one of the greatest in the universe if we preserve it”.