Governor-General Mary Simon unveiled her new coat of arms, which is described as a reflection of her Inuit culture and her “deep connection to the north”.

Rideau Hall made the announcement on Friday, saying the crest reflects Simon’s life story, underscoring not only his ties to the North but also “his love of family, as well as his distinguished career as a diplomat.” Canadian, an expert on circumpolarity matters and her Engagement as an Inuit leader.

“This crest is my story, my true story, and it speaks to my lifelong commitment to building bridges and family, and my hopes for a future where we respect one another and share our stories to help build better ones to foster interpersonal relationships,” Simon said in a statement.

A governor-general’s coat of arms appears on official documents, academic medals, and private seals, the latter officially certifying certain documents such as Canadian Forces officers’ commissions.

Rideau Hall says a key element of the crest is Simon’s commitment to reconciliation.

It includes his motto “Ajuinnata,” which in Inuktitut means “persevere” or “never give up,” Rideau Hall said.

THE SYMBOLS

At the center of the coat of arms is a shield whose colors “represent the snow and sky of northern Canada,” says Rideau Hall on its website. The shape of the shield resembles the “amauti” or parka worn by Inuit mothers.

The crest features a snowy oil, “known for its agility and adaptability,” as well as caribou antlers, animals that “symbolize the interdependence between man and nature.”

On each flank are two arctic foxes, “famous for their endurance and long migrations”.

Hanging from the left fox’s neck is a mountain sorrel flower found in Nunavik, northern Quebec, where Simon was born, while the fox on the right wears a strawberry flower pendant, the emblem of Clan Fraser, in honor of Simon’s husband. , Whit Grant Fraser.

We also see a “Kakivak” harpoon, said to honor Simon’s Inuit grandmother.

A blueberry patch is on the bottom rim, or compartment, of a crest that his office says represents Simon’s favorite pastime, blueberry picking. Between the two is cotton grass, a Norse plant used to make wicks for the “qulliq,” a traditional Inuit lamp.

“His Excellency’s Coat of Arms is simple in composition, yet extremely complex in meaning,” Samy Khalid, Canada’s Chief Herald, said in a statement.

“It’s a personal emblem that serves a public purpose. It illustrates how heraldry can express many layers of a person’s identity in a structured yet creative way. The inspiring story of these coats of arms enriches Canadian heraldry and continues this living tradition.