星空传媒

Skip to main content

Governor General Mary Simon unveils coat of arms that reflects Inuit culture

Share

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon has unveiled her new coat of arms, described as a reflection of her Inuit culture and "deep connection to the North."

Rideau Hall made the announcement , stating that the reflects Simon's life story, highlighting not just her northern connections but also "her love of family, as well as her distinguished careers as a Canadian diplomat, expert in circumpolar affairs and her dedication as an Inuit leader."

"This coat of arms is my story, my true history, and it speaks of my lifelong commitment to bridge-building and family, and of my hopes for a future where we respect and share each other's stories to help foster better relationships between peoples," Simon said in a statement.

A governor general's coat of arms appears on official documents, academic medals and privy seals, the latter of which give formal approval to certain documents such as commissions of officers in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Rideau Hall says a key component of the coat of arms is Simon's commitment to reconciliation.

It includes her motto, "Ajuinnata," meaning "to persevere" or "never give up" in Inuktitut, Rideau Hall said.

THE SYMBOLS

At the centre of the coat of arms is a shield, whose colours "represent the snow and skies of northern Canada," Rideau Hall . The shield's shape is akin to the "amauti" or parka worn by Inuit mothers.

The crest includes a snowy owl, "known for its agility and adaptability," as well as caribou antlers, animals that "symbolize the interconnectedness between humans and nature."

On each flank are two Arctic foxes, "famed for its endurance and long-distance migratory treks."

Hanging off the neck of the fox on the left is a mountain sorrel flower, found in Nunavik in northern Quebec , while the fox on the right bears a strawberry flower pendant, the emblem of Clan Fraser, in honour of Simon's husband, Whit Grant Fraser.

Also seen is a "kakivak" harpoon, meant to honour Simon's Inuit grandmother.

A blueberry patch sits at the bottom, or the compartment, of the coat of arms representing Simon's favourite pastime of blueberry picking, her office says. In between is cottongrass, a northern plant used to make wicks for the "qulliq," a traditional Inuit lamp.

"Her Excellency's coat of arms is simple in its composition and, at the same time, exquisitely complex in its meaning," Samy Khalid, the chief herald of Canada, said in a statement.

"It is a personal emblem that serves a public purpose. It exemplifies how heraldry can express many layers of a person's identity in a structured yet creative way. The inspirational story these arms tell enriches Canadian heraldry and perpetuates this living tradition."

CTVNews.ca 星空传媒

Since she was a young girl growing up in Vancouver, Ginny Lam says her mom Yat Hei Law made it very clear she favoured her son William, because he was her male heir.

The province's public security minister said he was "shocked" Thursday amid reports that a body believed to be that of a 14-year-old boy was found this week near a Hells Angels hideout near Quebec City.

An Ontario man says it is 'unfair' to pay a $1,500 insurance surcharge because his four-year-old SUV is at a higher risk of being stolen.

Emergency crews in northern Ontario found the bodies of four people inside a home where a fire broke out Thursday night.

The Montreal couple from Mexico and their three children facing deportation have received a temporary residence permit.

Local Spotlight

They say a dog is a man鈥檚 best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.

Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.

The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.

It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.

A Good Samaritan in New Brunswick has replaced a man's stolen bottle cart so he can continue to collect cans and bottles in his Moncton neighbourhood.

David Krumholtz, known for roles like Bernard the Elf in The Santa Clause and physicist Isidor Rabi in Oppenheimer, has spent the latter part of his summer filming horror flick Altar in Winnipeg. He says Winnipeg is the most movie-savvy town he's ever been in.

Edmontonians can count themselves lucky to ever see one tiger salamander, let alone the thousands one local woman says recently descended on her childhood home.

Stay Connected