- 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.
Carl Gagnon
Ottawa, Ontario
Grant of Arms, Flag and Badge
September 15, 2021
Vol. VIII, p. 15
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Or a winged unicorn rampant Sable;
Crest
A raven displayed Sable charged on the breast with a compass rose Argent and issuant from a naval crown Or;
Motto
HISTOIRE ET DEVOIR;
Flag
A banner of two points of the Arms;
Badge
A hurt ensigned by a naval crown Azure;
Symbolism
Arms
The winged unicorn, a creature of imagination, represents Mr. Gagnon’s creativity.
Crest
The raven is a bird that Mr. Gagnon admires for its intelligence. The compass rose, which represents a star, is a symbol traditionally associated with intelligence units and refers to Mr. Gagnon’s career in this field. The naval crown symbolizes his long career as a naval officer.
Motto
Meaning “History and duty,” this French phrase represents Mr. Gagnon’s interest in history and his sense of duty as a naval officer.
Flag
The symbolism of this emblem is found in other element(s) of this record.
Badge
The blue crowned disc represents a blueberry (bleuet in French), indicating Mr. Gagnon’s origins in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec, whose inhabitants are known as Bleuets. The colour blue also alludes to Mr. Gagnon’s naval career. The disc and naval crown echo the shape of the badges of Royal Canadian Navy ships and thus indicate Mr. Gagnon’s interest in studying and designing these badges.
Background
Canada Gazette Information
The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on December 11, 2021, in Volume 155, page 5669 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Original concept of Carl Gagnon, assisted by the heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
Painter
David Farrar
Calligrapher
Kathy Feig
Recipient Information
Individual