The Viceregal Lion
  1. The Governor General of Canada
Heraldry Today

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Pierre-Louis Lévesque

Verdun, Quebec
Grant of Arms and Flags
March 20, 1997
Vol. III, p. 150

Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.


Blazon

Arms

Argent a chevron Vert between three horses' heads couped Gules;

Crest

A stallion rampant Argent holding between its forelegs a staff Or flotant therefrom a banner Argent a maple leaf between two pales Vert;

Motto

PRAETERITUM IMPERATOR FUTURAE;

Flag

A banner of the Arms;

Flag

Argent a maple leaf between two pales Vert;


Symbolism

Arms

The colours red, green and white are the racing colours of the stables owned by Mr. Lévesque. The horses’ heads symbolize the fact that he owns horses and that horses play a vital role in his life.

Crest

The stallion repeats the themes of the arms. The banner honours Mr. Lévesque’s late father, Louis-Joseph Lévesque, whose racing colours were green and white. The design on the banner is taken from a jockey’s jacket associated with the Lévesque stables.

Motto

PRAETERITUM IMPERATOR FUTURAE is a Latin phrase meaning “The past is the ruler of the future”.

Flag

The symbolism of this emblem is found in other element(s) of this record.

Flag

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 November 22, 1997, in Volume 131, page 3590 of the Canada Gazette.


Artist Information

Creator(s)
Original concept of Leopold Kurcz, assisted by the heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.

Painter
Robert Létourneau

Calligrapher
Nancy Ellis


Recipient Information

Individual