Heraldic Grants and Confirmations

Summary#

The Canadian Heraldic Authority published a list of new and confirmed heraldic emblems — coats of arms, flags, badges and supporters — that were entered in the Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada. The list appeared in the Canada Gazette on December 7, 2019 and records decisions made between April 15, 2019 and August 15, 2019.

What it does#

• Records a batch of grants, approvals, registrations and confirmations of heraldic emblems for people and organizations.
• Includes examples such as grants to the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada, the Town of Cardston, Cape Breton University, the Law Society of Ontario, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada, and the Canadian Society of Mayflower Descendants.
• Notes that some grants include related items like flags, supporters (decorative figures beside a shield), badges, and smaller variant designs for relatives (called "differences" in heraldry).
• Lists mostly individual recipients (many named in the Gazette) and several institutional recipients; the decisions were published as entries in the official public register.

Who's affected#

• The named individuals and their family members who receive or inherit variant designs.
• The organizations and institutions listed (municipalities, universities, professional bodies and heritage societies).
• People and groups who use or manage official symbols for ceremonial, branding, historical or genealogical purposes.
• The broader public only indirectly — most of these are symbolic honours or identity markers rather than day‑to‑day rules that affect citizens.

Why it matters#

• These entries create the official public record of who is entitled to use particular coats of arms, flags or badges in Canada. The record is kept in the Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada.
• Officially recognized emblems are used for formal identity, signage, seals, uniforms and ceremony. That matters to the named people and organizations for heritage, reputation and protocol.
• For most Canadians this is a routine, symbolic government action rather than a change with immediate practical effects.