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Vancouver, British Columbia
Grant of Arms and Supporters
January 25, 1995
Vol. II, p. 380
Arms of Avril Kim CampbellBlazonOr the universal symbol for a woman pendant from its crosspiece a pair of scales Rose and in base three bars wavy Azure on a canton the mark of the Prime Ministership of Canada (Argent four maple leaves conjoined in cross at the stem Gules); SymbolismThe scales of justice refer to Ms. Campbell’s legal profession and to her service as Minister of Justice. They are shown with the universal symbol for a woman, indicating that she was the first woman to be Prime Minister of Canada. Pink is a reference to the distinctive colour used in her 1993 campaign for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative party. The three wavy blue bars, also found in the arms of Ms. Campbell’s home province of British Columbia, refer to both the Pacific Ocean and to three major elements of her career: the law, teaching and politics. The heraldic emblem of the Prime Minister of Canada appears in the upper left. |
CrestBlazonIssuant from a coronet the rim set with thistle heads Or on snowy mountain peaks Proper an eagle Azure head Argent its dexter leg resting on a closed book Rose clasped Or; SymbolismThe coronet of thistles recalls Ms. Campbell’s Scots heritage. The bald eagle is a fearless and majestic bird widely seen in British Columbia, and it is an emblem of wisdom for many of the First Peoples. The book refers to her ongoing involvement with various types of study and teaching. |
MottoBlazonSEEK WISDOM · CONQUER FEAR · DO JUSTICE; SymbolismNot applicable |
SupportersBlazonOn a grassy mound set with dogwood flowers, trillium flowers and Mayflowers Proper and pine cones Or rising above barry wavy Argent and Azure dexter a lion Or semé of fleurs-de-lys Azure gorged with a collar of poppy flowers Gules its dexter foreclaw resting on the pommel of a sheathed sword point downwards Azure embellished Or sinister a female bear Or semé of anchors Azure gorged with a like collar its dexter forepaw grasping a branch of cedar Vert embellished Or; SymbolismThe lion refers to Ms. Campbell’s father, with the poppies recalling his war service and the fleurs-de-lis his Montreal birthplace. The sword also refers to his military service and to the fact that Ms. Campbell served as Minister of National Defence. It is sheathed to refer to preparedness and defence of peace. The bear symbolizes British Columbia as well as Ms. Campbell’s Soviet studies, the bear being a symbol of Russia. The anchors refer to her mother's service in the Royal Canadian Navy. The cedar branch is a First Nations symbol honouring the nurturing and caring characteristics of women. The grass and water represent the land, rivers, lakes and oceans of Canada. Ms. Campbell’s ancestral heritage is symbolized by the provincial flowers of Nova Scotia, Ontario and British Columbia, as well as by the pine cones, a reference to the 17th century pine tree emblem of Massachusetts. |
BackgroundCanada Gazette InformationThe announcement of the letters patent was made on April 22, 1995 in Volume 129, page 1191 of the Canada Gazette.   |
Additional InformationCreator(s)Original concept of Robert D. Watt, Chief Herald of Canada, assisted by the heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority. PainterLinda Nicholson CalligrapherNancy Ellis Recipient TypeIndividual Special DesignationPrime Minister |