The Viceregal Lion
  1. The Governor General of Canada
Heraldry Today

The contents of this Register are intended for research purposes only. The heraldic emblems found in the Register may not be reproduced in any form or in any media without the written consent of the Canadian Heraldic Authority and/or the recipient.

David See-Chai Lam

Victoria, British Columbia
Grant of Arms and Supporters
August 28, 1989
Vol. I, p. 26

Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.


Blazon

Arms

Gules a Chinese dragon Or reaching for a pearl Argent on a chief Or a Latin cross Gules between two pine trees Vert;

Crest

An antique crown Or garnished with jade proper issuant therefrom a demi lion Or holding between his forepaws a jade ball proper;

Supporters

On a rocky promontory proper charged with three Pacific Dogwood flowers Argent leaved Vert seeded Or two horses Argent langued Gules unguled Or gorged with antique crown Or garnished with jade proper each horse holding a gonfalon Argent inscribed the dexter one inscribed, in Chinese characters, meaning "Forgetting what is behind" and the sinister one inscribed, in Chinese characters, meaning "Straining toward what is ahead" in letters Sable (Philippians 3:13);

Motto

AD FUTURA ASPIRANS. This Latin phrase means "Aspiring to the future".


Symbolism

In general, the symbolism of emblems prior to 2000 does not exist in an appropriate format for the online Register.


Background

Canada Gazette Information

The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on October 14, 1989, in Volume 123, page 4560 of the Canada Gazette.


Artist Information

Creator(s)
Original concept of Robert D. Watt, Chief Herald of Canada, assisted by the heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.

Painter
Kathryn Adams

Calligrapher
Judith Bainbridge


Recipient Information

Individual
Lieutenant-Governor