Canadian heraldry is the cultural tradition and style of coats of arms and other heraldic achievements in both modern and historic Canada. It includes national, provincial, and civic arms, noble and personal arms, ecclesiastical heraldry, heraldic displays as corporate logos, and Canadian heraldic descriptions. In 1988, governance of both personal and corporate heraldry in Canada was patriated from the heraldic authorities in England and Scotland. Coats of arms are used throughout Canada by all levels of government, in many cases including royal insignia as a mark of authority.
About Canadian heraldry in brief
Canadian heraldry is the cultural tradition and style of coats of arms and other heraldic achievements in both modern and historic Canada. It includes national, provincial, and civic arms, noble and personal arms, ecclesiastical heraldry, heraldic displays as corporate logos, and Canadian heraldic descriptions. Canadian heraldry also incorporates distinctly Canadian symbols, especially native flora and fauna, references to the First Nations and other aboriginal peoples of Canada, and uniquely Canadian elements such as the Canadian pale. A unique system of cadency is used for daughters inheriting arms, and a special symbol for United Empire Loyalists. In 1988, governance of both personal and corporate heraldry in Canada was patriated from the heraldic authorities in England and Scotland, with the formation of the Canadian Heraldic Authority, which now has exclusive jurisdiction over granting awards of arms in Canada. Coats of arms are used throughout Canada by all levels of government, in many cases including royal insignia as a mark of authority. Use of armorial bearings is not limited to governmental bodies; all citizens of Canada have the right to petition for an award of arms, as do other entities including businesses and religious institutions. The granting of arms is regarded as an honour from the Queen of Canada and is bestowed only on those whom the Chief Herald has deemed worthy of receiving a grant of arms. The history of European-style heraldry. in Canada began with the raising of the Royal Arms of France by French explorer Jacques Cartier in 1534, when he landed on Canadian soil at what is now known as the Gaspé Peninsula.
From the beginning of the settlement of Canada until the Treaty of Paris in 1763, arms were largely either brought from France or awarded by the French crown. A notable exception is the Coat of Arms of Nova Scotia, awarded in 1625 by Charles I ), in use until 1868, when it was replaced by a new achievement. Between 1763 and 1867, the year of Canadian Confederation, there is little evidence of much heraldic activity. In the period between the treaty of Paris and Confederation, the Arms of the United Kingdom had served as the emblem of authority within Canada. From 1763 until 1988, heraldry In Canada was under the authority of the College of Arms in London and the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh. The push for a wholly Canadian heralding system came largely from the Heraldry Society of Canada almost from its inception, though it was not seen as a national priority by successive governments. In 1967, plans were reportedly in the works to transfer control of heraldry from the College. of Arms to the Court. of. Arms in the UK. In addition, many Canadians with interest in heraldry began calling for an office that would offer armorial designs by designed by Canadians for public use. In. the late 1980s, the Queen issued Letters Patent creating the Canadianeraldic Authority. The coat of arms of the Hudson’s Bay Company was first used in 1671 ), and has been in continual use with minor cosmetic changes to the official depiction since.
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This page is based on the article Canadian heraldry published in Wikipedia (as of Nov. 11, 2020) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
