- The Governor General of Canada
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Agnese Di Leonardi
Toronto, Ontario
Grant of Arms, Flag and Badges
October 15, 2021
Vol. VIII, p. 25
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Lozengy Gules and Argent a lioness rampant Or gorged of a wing collar and court tabs Argent, on a chief enarched Or a poppy flower proper between two maunches addorsed Gules;
Crest
A lamb passant guardant proper resting its dexter foreleg on a closed book affronty Gules charged with a lozenge Or;
Motto
STRIVE UPWARDS;
Flag
A banner of the Arms;
Badge
A doe at gaze Or in front of a Tuscan column Gules;
Badge
An octagon embowed Gules charged with a lioness’ head erased Or;
Symbolism
Arms
The lioness alludes to Ms. Di Leonardi’s surname, leo meaning “lion” in Latin. A lion is also found in the arms of the commune of Alvito, Italy, from where Ms. Di Leonardi’s parents immigrated to Canada. The poppy further recalls Alvito, since the commune is noted for its poppies. The wing collar and the court tabs indicate Ms. Di Leonardi’s profession as a lawyer. The lozenge is a heraldic symbol that is often used for the arms of a woman. Shown here in a repeated pattern of red and white, the colours of Canada, it symbolizes the mentoring support she has provided to Canadian women leaders. The stylized lady’s sleeve harkens back to the medieval practice of awarding this item during tournaments as a sign of support, therefore referring to Ms. Di Leonardi’s contributions of good words and deeds as ways of giving to the community.
Crest
The lamb alludes to Ms. Di Leonardi’s name, Agnese. She is named after Saint Agnes, whose symbol is a white lamb lying on a gold book. The book itself, decorated with a gold emblem, represents a law book.
Motto
STRIVE UPWARDS.
Flag
The symbolism of this emblem is found in other element(s) of this record.
Badge
The doe emblematizes Ms. Di Leonardi’s mother, whose birth name was Cervi, which means “deer” in Italian. The column, a feature of classical architecture, reflects her mother’s origins in Rome, Italy.
Badge
The octagon shape contains a complexity of mathematical figures when each point is connected to every other one, representing the complexity of situations with which lawyers must contend in order for justice to prevail.
Background
Canada Gazette Information
The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on December 11, 2021, in Volume 155, page 5670 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Original concept of Darrel Kennedy, Assiniboine Herald, assisted by the heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
Painter
Robert Grey
Calligrapher
Luc Saucier
Recipient Information
Individual