Royal Heraldry Society of Canada
Encyclopedia
The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada is a Canadian
organization that promotes the art of Canadian Heraldry
. Founded as the Heraldry Society of Canada, the mission of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada and its branches is to promote the art of heraldry, particularly Canadian heraldry, and to encourage an interest in the subject among Canadians.
heraldic enthusiasts under the leadership of Lieutenant Commander
Alan Beddoe
. The founding meeting was held on 25 October 1966 at the Beacon Arms Hotel in Ottawa, where a full Board of Officers and Directors was formed under the presidency of L/Cdr. Beddoe. Its original name was The Heraldry Society of Canada. Today, it continues to inform and educate Canadians and assist them and their institutions in the acquisition of properly granted coats of arms.
During its first twenty-five years, the Society was the driving force toward the establishment of Canada's own body for the granting of arms. On June 4, 1988, at Government House in Ottawa, Prince Edward presented Letters Patent
from Her Majesty authorising the Governor General of Canada
to grant arms in her name and the establishment of a Canadian Heraldic Authority. The first Chief Herald of Canada was the then President of the Society, Robert Watt.
In December, 2001, on the initiative of its then President, Dr. Kevin Greaves, the Society petitioned the Queen via the Governor General to grant the designation "Royal" to the Society's name. This privilege was granted by Her Majesty on March 20, 2002, in the year of her Golden Jubilee. The change of name to the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada was proclaimed officially at the Society's Annual General Meeting in Victoria, B.C., on October 26, 2002. The announcement was made by Her Majesty's then-personal representative in the Province, the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
, the Hon. Iona Campagnolo
.
In keeping with its new status a Royal Society, the RHSC subsequently petitioned for an augmentation to its arms, using the Royal Crown on the shoulders of the Shield's supporters. This was granted by Her Majesty and new arms were granted on 18 December of that year.
Since that time, he Society has expanded its educational efforts with the further development of its three-level Heraldry Proficiency Course and with extension of its outreach programme for children, called Heraldry 4 Kids.
The Society publishes a biannual journal Heraldry in Canada and a quarterly newsletter, Gonfanon. Various branches also publish newsletters such as The Blazon (BC-Yukon Branch), The Prairie Tressure (Prairie Branch) and Hogtown Heraldry (Toronto Branch).
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
organization that promotes the art of Canadian Heraldry
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
. Founded as the Heraldry Society of Canada, the mission of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada and its branches is to promote the art of heraldry, particularly Canadian heraldry, and to encourage an interest in the subject among Canadians.
History
The Society was founded in 1966 by a group of OttawaOttawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
heraldic enthusiasts under the leadership of Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
Alan Beddoe
Alan Beddoe
Lieutenant-Commander Alan Brookman Beddoe, OC, OBE, HFHS, FHSC was a Canadian artist, war artist, consultant in heraldry and founder and first president of the Heraldry Society of Canada in 1965....
. The founding meeting was held on 25 October 1966 at the Beacon Arms Hotel in Ottawa, where a full Board of Officers and Directors was formed under the presidency of L/Cdr. Beddoe. Its original name was The Heraldry Society of Canada. Today, it continues to inform and educate Canadians and assist them and their institutions in the acquisition of properly granted coats of arms.
During its first twenty-five years, the Society was the driving force toward the establishment of Canada's own body for the granting of arms. On June 4, 1988, at Government House in Ottawa, Prince Edward presented Letters Patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
from Her Majesty authorising the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
to grant arms in her name and the establishment of a Canadian Heraldic Authority. The first Chief Herald of Canada was the then President of the Society, Robert Watt.
In December, 2001, on the initiative of its then President, Dr. Kevin Greaves, the Society petitioned the Queen via the Governor General to grant the designation "Royal" to the Society's name. This privilege was granted by Her Majesty on March 20, 2002, in the year of her Golden Jubilee. The change of name to the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada was proclaimed officially at the Society's Annual General Meeting in Victoria, B.C., on October 26, 2002. The announcement was made by Her Majesty's then-personal representative in the Province, the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
The Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia is the viceregal representative in British Columbia of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared with equally the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest...
, the Hon. Iona Campagnolo
Iona Campagnolo
Iona Campagnolo, is a Canadian politician, and was the first woman and 27th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. Prior to becoming Lieutenant Governor she was a Canadian politician and cabinet member in the Liberal government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.-Career:Born Iona Victoria Hardy...
.
In keeping with its new status a Royal Society, the RHSC subsequently petitioned for an augmentation to its arms, using the Royal Crown on the shoulders of the Shield's supporters. This was granted by Her Majesty and new arms were granted on 18 December of that year.
Since that time, he Society has expanded its educational efforts with the further development of its three-level Heraldry Proficiency Course and with extension of its outreach programme for children, called Heraldry 4 Kids.
The Society publishes a biannual journal Heraldry in Canada and a quarterly newsletter, Gonfanon. Various branches also publish newsletters such as The Blazon (BC-Yukon Branch), The Prairie Tressure (Prairie Branch) and Hogtown Heraldry (Toronto Branch).
Certifications and awards
The RHSC grants three distinctions to those who qualify:- FellowFellowA fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
(FRHSC), granted to active members who have made significant contributions to heraldry and to the Society.
- Honorary Fellow (FRHSC (Hon.)), granted to both members and non-members who have contributed to the understanding of heraldry in Canada and/or assisted the Society.
- LicentiateLicentiateLicentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
(LRHSC), granted to those who have completed the Society's Level III Heraldic Proficiency Course.
See also
- List of Canadian organizations with royal prefix
- The Heraldry SocietyThe Heraldry SocietyThe Heraldry Society is one of the leading organizations in the world devoted to studying heraldry. In 1947, a twenty year old John Brooke-Little founded the Society of Heraldic Antiquaries. This title was changed to The Heraldry Society in 1950. It was incorporated in 1956 and is now a registered...
- Heraldry Society of ScotlandHeraldry Society of ScotlandThe Heraldry Society of Scotland was founded in 1977 with the objective of promoting the study of heraldry and encouraging its correct use in Scotland and overseas....
- American Heraldry SocietyAmerican Heraldry SocietyThe American Heraldry Society is a learned society that promotes the study of heraldry and education of U.S. citizens about heraldry. The organization also advocates the development of a distinctly American heraldic tradition and encourages the legal protection of armorial bearings in the U.S. The...
- Committee on Heraldry of the New England Historic Genealogical SocietyCommittee on Heraldry of the New England Historic Genealogical SocietyThe Committee on Heraldry of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, established in 1864, is the world's oldest non-governmental body primarily concerned with heraldry. It authenticates and records coats of arms rightfully borne in the United States or by U.S...
- Monarchy of Canada