- The Governor General of Canada
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Kurt Allen Ritter
Duncan, British Columbia
Grant of Arms, Flag and Badge, with differences to Cadan Tong Ritter
November 20, 2014
Vol. VI, p. 467
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Blazon
Arms
Sable a phoenix, on a chief potenty Or a lion’s face between two spurs Sable;
Crest
An owl close holding in the dexter claw two opium poppies proper;
Motto
THE FUTURE IS ESTABLISHED TODAY;
Symbolism
Arms
Black and yellow are the colours of the Duchy of Württemberg, in present-day Germany, whence Dr. Ritter’s family came. The phoenix refers to the Chinese heritage of Dr. Ritter’s wife. The lion’s face, reminiscent of the lions found on the arms of Württemberg, represents, for Dr. Ritter, vigilance, which is at the core of his profession as a doctor. The spurs, objects traditionally bestowed during the ceremony of creating a knight (Ritter in German), allude to the surname. The T-shaped line makes reference to crutches, an aid to healing, and to the idea of strength, thus symbolizing Dr. Ritter’s medical career and in particular his work in the field of pain management for cancer patients.
Crest
The owl is found in the arms of Hughes Hall, Cambridge University, which Dr. Ritter attended. The opium poppies, an early form of anesthesia, refer to his profession as an anesthesiologist.
Motto
This motto is based on a quote by Harvey Spencer Lewis: “I am tomorrow, or some future day, what I establish today. I am today what I established yesterday or some previous day”.