- 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.
Bruce Douglas Macpherson
Ottawa, Ontario
Registration of Arms
June 15, 2020
Vol. VII, p. 268
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Azure a lymphad sails furled oars in action Or, flagged Argent with a saltire Azure, the masthead pennon Gules, on a chief Or an ivy leaf Vert between a dexter hand couped fesswise grasping a dagger, and a cross-crosslet fitché, all within a bordure engrailed Gules;
Crest
A demi-wildcat guardant proper holding an ivy leaf Vert;
Motto
NOT THIS BUT A GLOVE;
Symbolism
Arms
The colours, the ship, the hand holding the dagger, and the cross are taken from the arms of the chief of the Clan Macpherson. The ship, derived from the arms of the Lords of the Isles, is found in many coats of arms from the western Highlands of Scotland. The flags on the ship allude to the flag of Nova Scotia, the home of Mr. Macpherson’s father, the Reverend Angus Gordon Macpherson. The cross is an ecclesiastical reference, as the name Macpherson is derived from the Scots Gaelic phrase for “son of the parson.” The hand and dagger indicate the role of the Clan Macpherson in overthrowing the Cummings of Badenoch family, who were enemies of King Robert the Bruce at the beginning of the 14th century. The ivy leaf is the plant badge of the Clan Gordon, and indicates the name used by Mr. Macpherson’s father. In the Scottish system of cadency, the engrailed border indicates the second son of a cadet line.
Crest
The wildcat is used as a crest by most Macpherson armigers. The ivy leaf is taken from the arms.
Motto
This phrase is a variation on the motto of the chief of the Clan Macpherson, “Touch not the cat but a glove.” The glove refers to the pads of a wildcat’s paws when its claws have been retracted. The phrase is therefore a warning not to engage with the members of the clan—represented by the wildcat—when they are ready to fight or “ungloved.”
Background
Canada Gazette Information
The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on March 27, 2021, in Volume 155, page 1317 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Not available.
Painter
* Not applicable / Sans objet
Calligrapher
* Not applicable / Sans objet
Recipient Information
Individual
The recipient’s emblems were originally recorded in the records of the Court of the Lord Lyon, Edinburgh, Scotland, 29 March 1956.