- The Governor General of Canada
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Lewis David St Columb Skene-Melvin
Toronto, Ontario
Grant of Arms and Badge
July 23, 2001
Vol. IV, p. 138
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Blazon
Arms
Azure on a plate encircled by thirteen mullets Argent, a thistle slipped and leaved proper;
Crest
Issuant from a coronet erablé Argent a dexter cubit arm proper grasping a closed book Gules charged with a pistol Argent;
Motto
ΟΙ ΚΥΒΟΙ ΑΙΟΣ ΑΕΙ ΕΥΠΙΠΤΟΥΣΙ;
Symbolism
Arms
The blue and white and the thistle represent Mr. Skene-Melvin’s paternal heritage in Scotland, while his maternal family, the Hilles of the Baltimore area, is symbolized by the thirteen white stars, indicative of the American colonies at the time of the Revolution.
Crest
The coronet of maple leaves represents Mr. Skene-Melvin’s citizenship and his service to Canada and to Canadian literary studies. The book, in Canada’s national colours, symbolizes his contribution in the field of literature, libraries, education, and to the Crime Writers of Canada. Mr. Skene-Melvin’s authoritative work on crime fiction in Canada is indicated by the pistol on the book.
Motto
This Greek saying, meaning “The dice of the gods are always loaded”, originated in a fragment (895) of an unknown play by Sophocles.