- 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.
Garnet James Colwell
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Registration of Arms
December 20, 2024
Vol. VIII, p. 337
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Argent on a bezant irradiated Gules a hurt engrailed charged with a kingfisher Or;
Crest
A lion sejant Gules wearing a mural crown Or, gorged with a wreath of mayflowers, its forepaw resting on a circular mirror proper;
Motto
FIT FOR ALL;
Symbolism
Arms
The disc with the red rays alludes to the 1917 Halifax explosion. Lieutenant-Colonel Colwell’s father, Henry Stubbs Colwell, the then-deputy mayor of the city, directed the relief following the disaster. The kingfisher is the emblem of Halifax.
Crest
The Canadian Heraldic Authority does not have confirmed symbolism for this emblem. The following comments are hypotheses only. The red lion is perhaps a reference to that in the arms of Nova Scotia, Lieutenant-Colonel Colwell’s place of birth. The mayflower is the floral emblem of the province. The mirror alludes to the family business, a men’s clothing store. The mural crown represents his father’s service in municipal government.
Motto
This phrase is another reference to the men’s clothing business operated by the family.
Background
Canada Gazette Information
The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on January 1, 1900, in Volume 0, page 0 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Original concept of the College of Arms, London.
Painter
Artist of the College of Arms, London / Artiste du Collège d’armes, Londres
Calligrapher
* Not applicable / Sans objet
Recipient Information
Individual
The recipient’s emblems were originally recorded at the College of Arms, London, England, 10 October 1967.