Creating your Personal Coat of Arms
In Canada, coats of arms are granted under the Governor General's authority to cities, towns, schools, universities, hospitals, churches, private companies, cultural organizations, individuals, and others. They are symbols of authority, ownership and identity and are part of the national honours system. Designed by heralds in the Governor General's office, coats of arms are simple yet colourful, and filled with symbols that have great meaning for their owners.
While coats of arms are different for every individual and organization, they all have one thing in common: they help tell the story of the people they represent.
You can tell your own story by creating a personal coat of arms on the shield on this page. Start by choosing symbols that mean something to you. These symbols can be from nature or they can be invented by people. They can include everything from maple leaves and flowers to ships and musical instruments, but the best coats of arms include only a few items and colours.
The rules of heraldry
As you create your coat of arms, be sure to follow the basic rules of heraldry. The most important rule has to do with colour. Five main colours can be used on a coat of arms: red, blue, green, purple and black. A coat of arms can also feature two metals: silver (shown as white) and gold (shown as yellow). To create a greater contrast between colours, you should draw in your shield with one of the five main colours and then place one of the metal colours (white or gold) on top, or vice versa. To indicate family ties, you may also divide the shield in half horizontally, diagonally or vertically, colouring one side in a main colour and the other in a metal colour, with the symbols on each side drawn in a colour that contrasts with the background. Other divisions are also possible: check out books on heraldry at your local library to see examples.
You can place additional symbols on your coat of arms by adding a crest above the shield. Can you think of a personal motto for your coat of arms?
When you are finished, share your coat of arms with a friend. Compare notes as to what you have learned. Now that you have made a coat of arms for yourself, you might like to design one for your class. Put it up for others to see!
[ Previous Page | Table of Contents | Next Page ]