- 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.
John Michael Eydt
Gatineau, Quebec
Registration of Arms and Badge
June 20, 2025
Vol. VIII, p. 386
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Per chevron Argent and Azure, in chief two blue-eyed grass flowers proper, in base a lion rampant barry of ten Or and Gules;
Crest
A sinister cubit arm proper habited Gules holding a closed book Sable edged Or;
Motto
MEIN WORT IST MEIN EID;
Badge
The Crest within a belt Azure edged, buckled, its tip adorned with a maple leaf and inscribed with the Motto in letters Or;
Symbolism
Arms
The division line in the shape of an inverted V and the lion allude to the arms of the University of Waterloo, where Dr. Eydt’s cousin, the original grantee, taught for 37 years. A striped lion on a blue field evokes the arms of the German state of Hesse from which Dr. Eydt’s family and name originated. Gold and red are prominent colours in the arms of the University of Waterloo and provide a difference from the lion of the Hessian arms. Blue-eyed grass was Dr. Eydt’s cousin’s favourite wildflower and symbolizes his long career as a professor of botany.
Crest
The hand holding a Bible symbolizes the surname Eydt, which is an archaic form of the German word “oath” in the legal sense.
Motto
This German phrase, meaning “My word is my oath,” refers to Dr. Eydt’s surname and to his cousin’s philosophy.
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 January 1, 1900, in Volume 0, page 0 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Original concept of Kevin Greaves, assisted by the heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
Painter
D. Robert Tunstall
Calligrapher
Doris Wionzek
Recipient Information
Individual
The recipient’s emblems were originally recorded in the name of his cousin Henry Ronald North Eydt in the Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada, Volume IV, page 389, 15 July 2004.