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Collingwood, Ontario
Grant of Arms, with differences to Cynthia Merren Gillies Hall, Jory Elizabeth Gillies and Ian Andrew Gillies
June 20, 2008
Vol. V, p. 307
Arms of John Charles GilliesBlazonPurpure between two flaunches Or, that to the dexter charged with a cross-crosslet fitchy, that to the sinister charged with a hand grasping a seax Purpure, a lymphad Or set on a base barry wavy Or and Purpure, in chief a pelican in its piety Or; SymbolismPurple and yellow are the colours of Wilfrid Laurier University, which Mr. Gillies attended. The ship, cross and hand holding a sword are Macpherson armorial elements and indicate that the Gillies family is a sept of the clan Macpherson. The depiction of water at the bottom of the shield indicates Mr. Gillies’s love of boating and fishing. The pelican appears in arms associated branches of the Lumley family and therefore alludes to Mr. Gillies’s maternal heritage. The use of the “seax” as the sword held by the hand refers to the arms of Essex County and the badge of the Essex Scottish Regiment in which Mr. Gillies and his father served. |
CrestBlazonA wild cat courant proper gorged with maple leaves Or; SymbolismThe cat is a Macpherson crest, and Gillies versions of it generally show it running. The maple leaves indicate that this is a Canadian branch of the Gillies family. |
MottoBlazonM’ FHACAL MO GHEALLADH; SymbolismThis phrase in Scots Gaelic means “My words in my bond”. |
Differenced Arms for Cynthia Merren Gillies Hall, daughter of John Charles GilliesBlazonThe Arms of John Charles Gillies within a bordure per saltire Or and Purpure; SymbolismThe symbolism of this emblem is found in other element(s) of this record. |
Differenced Arms for Jory Elizabeth Gillies, daughter of John Charles GilliesBlazonThe Arms of John Charles Gillies within a bordure compony-counter-compony Purpure and Or; SymbolismThe symbolism of this emblem is found in other element(s) of this record. |
Differenced Arms for Ian Andrew Gillies, son of John Charles GilliesBlazonThe Arms of John Charles Gillies debruised between the flaunches of a barrulet Or; this individual will inherit the Arms of the Recipient following his or her death; SymbolismThe symbolism of this emblem is found in other element(s) of this record. |
BackgroundCanada Gazette InformationThe announcement of the letters patent was made on November 22, 2008 in Volume 142, page 2984 of the Canada Gazette.   |
Additional InformationCreator(s)Original concept of Gordon Macpherson, Niagara Herald Extraordinary, assisted by the heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority. PainterGordon Macpherson CalligrapherShirley Mangione Recipient TypeIndividual |