- The Governor General of Canada
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.
Margaret Thom
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Grant of Arms and Supporters, with differences to Tina Marie Gargan, Melanie Georgette Thom-Gargan, Lee Maria Thom and Tamara Rosalie Thom-Field
May 15, 2019
Vol. VII, p. 188
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Sable a tepee issuant from base Argent its staves Or its interior Gules charged with a campfire Or;
Crest
A bald eagle wings displayed Sable each charged with a mountain avens flower proper, its head Argent, beaked, legged and holding in the dexter claw a lightning flash Or, standing on a closed book bound Gules its edge fesswise Argent;
Supporters
Dexter a moose cow sinister a moose calf Or both supporting a braid of sweetgrass and standing on a grassy mount proper;
Motto
NEZŲ TS’ĘNDA;
Differenced Arms for Tina Marie Gargan, child of Margaret Thom
The Arms of Margaret Thom with a feather palewise Or in place of the campfire . This individual will inherit the Arms of the Recipient following his or her death;
Differenced Arms for Melanie Georgette Thom-Gargan, child of Margaret Thom
The Arms of Margaret Thom with a feather palewise Argent in place of the campfire;
Differenced arms of Lee Maria Thom, child of Margaret Thom
The Arms for Margaret Thom with a feather palewise per fess Or and Argent in place of the campfire;
Differenced Arms for Tamara Rosalie Thom-Field, child of Margaret Thom
The Arms of Margaret Thom with a feather palewise quarterly Or and Argent in place of the campfire;
Symbolism
Arms
The four colours are those of the four directions, the four seasons and the four winds in First Nations teaching. The tepee is the traditional dwelling of the Dene people, and the fire at its centre recalls the learning that took place around it, when elders would teach the children. This alludes to Commissioner Thom’s many years of commitment to education in the North. The use of the circular shield refers to the world as Mother Earth, to the dream catcher, and to the gathering of people in equality and balance where no-one sits in front of or behind another.
Crest
The bald eagle is a bird native to the Northwest Territories. The lightning bolt refers to Commissioner Thom’s husband’s career in the energy industry. The book is a reference to commitment to the field of education in the North. The mountain avens is the floral emblem of the Northwest Territories.
Supporters
The moose is a staple of the Dene people. The female adult and the young moose represent elders and children, and therefore the passing of knowledge from one generation to another. The braid of three strands of sweetgrass is a symbol of great cultural importance for Indigenous people, representing the intertwining of mind, body and spirit. It is also used in smudging ceremonies, in which the self and the surrounding environment are cleansed. The mountain avens is the territorial floral emblem, and indicates Commissioner Thom’s service to the Northwest Territories.
Motto
This Dene Zhatıé phrase meaning “Life in balance” relates to Commissioner Thom’s belief in being responsible for one’s own wellness.
Differenced Arms for Tina Marie Gargan, child of Margaret Thom
The feather in the shield of each of Commissioner Thom’s daughters is a sacred symbol and relates to the eagle of the Crest.
Differenced Arms for Melanie Georgette Thom-Gargan, child of Margaret Thom
The feather in the shield of each of Commissioner Thom’s daughters is a sacred symbol and relates to the eagle of the Crest.
Differenced arms of Lee Maria Thom, child of Margaret Thom
The feather in the shield of each of Commissioner Thom’s daughters is a sacred symbol and relates to the eagle of the Crest.
Differenced Arms for Tamara Rosalie Thom-Field, child of Margaret Thom
The feather in the shield of each of Commissioner Thom’s daughters is a sacred symbol and relates to the eagle of the Crest.
Background
Canada Gazette Information
The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on December 7, 2019, in Volume 153, page 4268 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Original concept of Bruce Patterson, Deputy Chief Herald of Canada, assisted by the heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
Painter
Ilona Jurkiewicz
Calligrapher
Yolande Lessard
Recipient Information
Individual
Territorial Commissioner