- The Governor General of Canada
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Barbara Lee Grace Avery
Owen Sound, Ontario
Grant of Arms and Badge, with differences to Sarah Margaret Avery and Catherine Grace Avery
December 15, 2015
Vol. VI, p. 578
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Blazon
Arms
Gules an ankh pendent from its crossbeam two balance pans Or, on a chief barry wavy Azure and Argent a pale patté Or charged with a tryzub Azure and between two mullets of six points Or;
Crest
Issuant from a barrulet wavy Azure a loon displayed proper in front of a maple tree Gules;
Motto
ÆQUILIBRARE VITAM;
Symbolism
Arms
Blue and gold and the tryzub represent Ms. Avery’s Ukrainian heritage. The ankh symbolizes life. With the two pans, it also alludes to the arms of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto from which she graduated as a pharmacist. The wavy bars relate to water, symbolizing its life-sustaining and recreational aspects, as well as its use in preparing medicines. The gold portion on the chief takes the shape of a pestle, an instrument used in preparing medications. The gold star is taken from the arms of the chief of the Scottish clan Scott, her maiden name. The stars and pans represent Ms. Avery’s identical twin daughters. The stars also evoke the light of knowledge.
Crest
The “dancing” loon recalls Ms. Avery’s roots in Northern Ontario. The tree with two trunks symbolizes her two children and the future growth of her family. It also represents the trees planted on the family property and their ability to provide nourishment and habitat for wildlife.
Motto
This Latin phrase meaning “Balance life” contains the concept of “balance” as an overriding principle for Ms. Avery, both professionally and privately. Success in daily life incorporates evaluating the balance of risk versus benefit, needs versus wants, rights versus responsibilities, and work with play.