- 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.
Neville George Poy
Toronto, Ontario
Grant of Arms
October 15, 2004
Vol. IV, p. 403
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Gules a boar's head erased, on a chief Or an open book Argent bound Gules between two plates fimbriated Gules;
Crest
Issuant from a coronet erablé Gules, a demi Chinese dragon holding in its dexter claw a rod of Aesculapius Or;
Motto
SPIRITALITAS MORTALITATEM TRANSCENDIT;
Symbolism
Arms
Red and gold were chosen by Dr. Poy for their importance in traditional Chinese culture and as an expression of his family heritage. The red boar’s head marks the fact that Dr. Poy was born in the Year of the Boar according to the Chinese lunar calendar. The circle motifs, representing camera lenses, are a symbol of his latest career in fine art photography and his service as a founding member of the Canadian Heritage Photography Foundation.
Crest
The coronet represents Dr. Poy’s service to Canada through his celebrated career in medicine and his extensive contributions as a volunteer in the fields of medicine and the arts. The Chinese dragon is a prominent symbol of a “good spirit” or a guardian, and it serves as another reference to Dr. Poy’s Chinese heritage. The rod of Aesculapius is the traditional heraldic reference to the medical profession.
Motto
Meaning “Spirituality transcends mortality”.
Background
Canada Gazette Information
The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on March 12, 2005, in Volume 139, page 689 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Original concept of Robert D. Watt, Chief Herald of Canada, assisted by the Heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority
Painter
Eva Pilar-Cass
Calligrapher
Shirley Mangione
Recipient Information
Individual