- 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.
The St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology
Windsor, Ontario
Registration of Arms
February 20, 2025
Vol. VIII, p. 354
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Argent a griffin segreant Gules armed beaked and winged Or, on a chief engrailed Sable a rose Argent barbed and seeded Vert between two cogwheels Argent;
* The painting accompanying the extract from the register of the Court of the Lord Lyon depicts the griffin as “sejant” rather than “segreant”;
Motto
OPTIMUM ELIGE;
Symbolism
Arms
The Canadian Heraldic Authority does not have confirmed symbolism for this emblem. The following comments are hypotheses only. The griffin makes two allusions to the name St. Clair. Two griffins are the supporters of the arms of the Earl of Caithness, the chief of the Clan Sinclair. In addition, Lake St. Clair, Ontario, received its name in 1679 by the Sieur de La Salle while commanding the ship Le Griffon (“The Griffin” in French). The cogwheels allude to the College’s specialization in technology. The rose is a reference to Windsor, Ontario, where the College is located, and which has long been known as Rose City or the City of Roses.
Motto
This Latin expression means “Choose the best.”
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 Court of the Lord Lyon, Edinburgh.
Painter
* Not applicable / Sans objet
Calligrapher
* Not applicable / Sans objet
Recipient Information
Civil Institution
Educational
The recipient’s emblems were originally recorded in the records of the Court of the Lord Lyon, Edinburgh, Scotland, 11 March 1968.