- 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.
Gordon Lindsay Drayton Watt
Ottawa, Ontario
Grant of Arms, Flag and Badge
November 10, 2003
Vol. IV, p. 332
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Argent goutté de larmes an oak tree eradicated Vert fructed Or;
Crest
On a grassy mound Vert a maple tree Or entwined about by a snake Vert;
Motto
FIDES PROBITAS INDUSTRIA PROSPERANT;
Flag
A banner of the Arms;
Badge
Four acorns their stalks conjoined in cross Or between four gouttes in saltire Azure;
Symbolism
Arms
The blue drops appear as water drops. These can refer to Dr. Watt’s aquatic sporting activities, and, on another level, to the origin of the name Watt. The Old Germanic personal name of “Walter” was introduced into Britain before the Norman Conquest of 1066. It was pronounced as “Wauter”, hence the abbreviated form of Watt. In Scotland, grants of arms to people named Watt have a common feature of a white shield containing an oak tree. Here, the roots of the tree are exposed to allude to the fact that the family has been displaced overseas. With a family history of several generations involved in the medical field, the green tree also alludes to the role of health professionals in looking at root causes of illnesses.
Crest
The green snake entwined about the tree is an echo of the rod of Aesculapius, the symbol of medicine. The crest maintains a basic feature of Watt grants of a tree on a green mound. A thick gold maple tree represents this Canadian branch of the family and its generations in the health field.
Motto
This Latin phrase means “Loyalty, integrity and enterprise breed success”.
Flag
The symbolism of this emblem is found in other element(s) of this record.
Badge
The symbolism of this emblem is found in other element(s) of this record.
Background
Canada Gazette Information
The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on March 12, 2005, in Volume 139, page 687 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
Gordon Macpherson
Calligrapher
Doris Wionzek
Recipient Information
Individual