Herald Chancellor of Canada
Encyclopedia
The Herald Chancellor of Canada (Chancelier d'armes in French
)is an officer at the Canadian Heraldic Authority
. The office is always filled by the Secretary to the Governor General
. The Herald Chancellor is responsible for the administration of the entire vice-regal office. In some ways, the office is analogous to the Earl Marshal in England, as it is the Herald Chancellor that issues the warrants permitting the Chief Herald of Canada
to make grants of arms. The Herald Chancellor also signs each completed grant document along with the Chief Herald. The position of Deputy Herald Chancellor (Vice-chancelier d'armes in French) is held by the Deputy Secretary to the Governor General, who is also the head of the Chancellery of Honours, responsible for the administration of the Canadian honours system. When the Herald Chancellor is unavailable, the Deputy Herald Chancellor will issue the proper warrants for the Chief Herald of Canada to grant arms.
The Herald Chancellor of Canada has arms of office
. The red shield features a gold maple tree with its roots visible. The maple tree represents the predominant species on the grounds of Rideau Hall
, where the Canadian Heraldic Authority is headquartered. The batons of office are red and gold and are decorated with shields of the arms of the CHA. The arms are impaled with the personal arms of the Herald Chancellor. The Deputy Herald Chancellor uses similar arms. These are red with a white tree and an added white bordure
. These are, likewise, impaled with the personal arms of the office-holder.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
)is an officer at the Canadian Heraldic Authority
Canadian Heraldic Authority
The Canadian Heraldic Authority is part of the Canadian honours system under the Queen of Canada, whose authority is exercised by the Governor General. The Authority is responsible for the creation and granting of new coats of arms , flags and badges for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and...
. The office is always filled by the Secretary to the Governor General
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
. The Herald Chancellor is responsible for the administration of the entire vice-regal office. In some ways, the office is analogous to the Earl Marshal in England, as it is the Herald Chancellor that issues the warrants permitting the Chief Herald of Canada
Chief Herald of Canada
Chief Herald of Canada is the title held by the head of the Canadian Heraldic Authority. The Chief Herald of Canada directs the operations of the Canadian Heraldic Authority and makes the grants of arms. There are exceptions to this, such as certain grants made directly by the Governor General. The...
to make grants of arms. The Herald Chancellor also signs each completed grant document along with the Chief Herald. The position of Deputy Herald Chancellor (Vice-chancelier d'armes in French) is held by the Deputy Secretary to the Governor General, who is also the head of the Chancellery of Honours, responsible for the administration of the Canadian honours system. When the Herald Chancellor is unavailable, the Deputy Herald Chancellor will issue the proper warrants for the Chief Herald of Canada to grant arms.
The Herald Chancellor of Canada has arms of office
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
. The red shield features a gold maple tree with its roots visible. The maple tree represents the predominant species on the grounds of Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall is, since 1867, the official residence in Ottawa of both the Canadian monarch and the Governor General of Canada. It stands in Canada's capital on a 0.36 km2 estate at 1 Sussex Drive, with the main building consisting of 170 rooms across 9,500 m2 , and 24 outbuildings around the...
, where the Canadian Heraldic Authority is headquartered. The batons of office are red and gold and are decorated with shields of the arms of the CHA. The arms are impaled with the personal arms of the Herald Chancellor. The Deputy Herald Chancellor uses similar arms. These are red with a white tree and an added white bordure
Bordure
In heraldry, a bordure is a band of contrasting tincture forming a border around the edge of a shield, traditionally one-sixth as wide as the shield itself...
. These are, likewise, impaled with the personal arms of the office-holder.
Herald Chancellors
- 1988-1990 Léopold Amyot
- 1990-2000 Judith A. LaRocque, CVORoyal Victorian OrderThe Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
- 2000-2006 Barbara Uteck, CVO
- 2006-2010 Sheila-Marie Cook
- 2011-Stephen G. Wallace
Deputy Herald Chancellors
- 1988-1992 LtGen François Richard, CMMOrder of Military Merit (Canada)The Order of Military Merit is a military honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest order administered by the Governor General-in-Council, on behalf of the Queen of Canada...
- 1993-2004 LtGen James C. Gervais, CMM
- 2005-2010 Emmanuelle Sajous