Heraldic Grants, Registrations and Appointments

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice from March 27, 2021 lists a batch of heraldic actions (grants, approvals, registrations and confirmations) made by The Canadian Heraldic Authority and entered in the Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada. It also announces a few heraldic appointments. The practical effect is to record and make official various coats of arms, flags and badges for people, institutions and military units.

What it does#

• Records new grants of arms, flags, badges and supporters to individuals and organizations.
• Registers existing or newly designed coats of arms for people, municipalities and institutions.
• Approves or confirms badges for military units and specific military trades (many Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Armed Forces trade badges are listed).
• Confirms some older badges (for example a badge dated July 20, 1990) and lists many actions carried out in 2020 and early 2021 (the latest listed approval is February 15, 2021).
• Announces commissions (appointments) for heraldic officers, including Marc Thériault (Deputy Herald Chancellor, May 4, 2020), Claire Boudreau (Margaree‑Chéticamp Herald Emeritus, May 20, 2020) and Samy Khalid (Chief Herald of Canada, May 20, 2020).

Examples of named recipients in the list include:

• The Supreme Court of Canada (grant of a flag and badges).
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police (grant of a flag).
• VIA Rail Canada Inc. (grant of arms, supporters, flag and badge).
• The Hotel Association of Canada and Saskatchewan Genealogical Society Inc. (registrations/grants).
• Naval ships and units such as HMCS Margaret Brooke and HMCS Max Bernays (badge approvals).
• Military formations such as The Nova Scotia Highlanders (regimental colour approval).

Who's affected#

• Individuals who requested and received grants of arms (named people listed in the notice).
• Organizations and businesses that received arms, flags or badges (for example VIA Rail Canada Inc., The Hotel Association of Canada).
• Municipal and regional bodies that had arms registered (for example The Municipality of the County of Halifax).
• Canadian Armed Forces units and trades that received badge approvals or confirmations (several Royal Canadian Air Force trades and units are included).
• Heraldry professionals, historians, museums and anyone who uses or displays these emblems.
• The general public is not directly regulated by this notice; it mainly affects the named recipients and their use of official symbols.

Why it matters#

• A grant, registration or approval makes an emblem an official, recorded Canadian symbol. That matters for ceremonial use, branding, and historical record-keeping.
• Official registration helps protect the emblem’s design and ensures consistent use in flags, uniforms, plaques and publications.
• The announced heraldic appointments name who will oversee and manage Canadian heraldic practices.
• For most people this is a routine administrative update. For the named individuals and organizations, it is the formal recognition they can now use publicly.