RHSC Canadian Heraldic Dictionary: B-index

Canadian Heraldic Dictionary

Term	Source	Meaning	Illustration
Badger	Justice, D.H., Vol VI, P 146	The Badger of this crest refers to the grantee’s work on the use of badgers as symbols in different cultures.
Badger Paw Prints	Gibson, R.J.S., Vol IV, P 230	The Badger (shown here by its paw-prints) refers to the grantee’s Cree heritage. They also refer directly to the badger sporran of the Calgary Highlanders Regiment, of which he was the Honorary Colonel.
Bahai Star	Millington, I., Vol IV, P 258	The nine-pointed Baha’i Star is symbolic of the Baha’i faith to which the grantee belongs.
Bald Eagle	Brentwood College Association	The bald eagle is the North American version of the more traditional heraldic eagle, the king of birds – representing supremacy and leadership. It also has significance as a First Nations symbol.
Banyan Tree	Lafond, J-D, Vol V, P 264	The Banyan Tree in these arms is a symbol of work, energy and hope. The supporters in the arms are elaborated under the letter "F".
Barque	Leblanc Association	The single-masted vessel shown in base is blazoned as a barque, possibly to distinguish it from a lymphad, which it resembles slightly. It is certainly not a barque in any nautical sense, since the latter has three masts. It is presumably meant to describe any sailing vessel of indeterminate type.
Bastion	Rural Municipality of St. Andrews, Man., Vol V, P 174	The Bastion is a form of fortification used in many parts of Canada.
Beadwork, Metis	Redmile, R.D. (Badge) Vol VI, P 74	The glove is a traditional part of a bishop’s vesture, since the grantee is a bishop. The Metis Beadwork that decorates them is a reference to his maternal ancestors.
Bear, Black	Good, Jonathan	The black bear, as distinct from “a bear Sable”, represents a distinct North American species. When blazoned as Proper, it should show the brown muzzle of the natural animal.
Bear Paw Prints	Baker, a. Vol VI, P 354	The Paw Prints of the Bear were well known to early settlers in Canada.
Bear, Polar	Association of Universities & Colleges	Again, this is a distinct species, not just a bear Argent.
Beaver (First Nations Style)	Regional Cadet Support Unit (Pacific) (Badge) Vol V, P 420	The beaver (its face depicted in West Coast First Nations style) is known by them for its industriousness, building skills and wise advice.
Beaver Lodge	General Synod, Anglican Church of Canada . Vol VI, F-N P3	The Beaver Lodge is the home of the animal symbol of our country and is also an important emblem of the Algonquian people.
Beaver Pelt	Skutezky, E.M.R. Vol IV, P 500	The Beaver Pelt, shown here on a stretching frame, alludes to the fur traders of early Canada.
Beaver Playing an Accordian	Masse, P. Vol V, P 502	The beaver is the classic Canadian animal emblem. The accordion refers to the grantee’s enthusiasm for the instrument.
Beehive Oven	Petozzi (Child’s arms) Vol VI, P 115	The Beehive Oven (shown at the centre chief) alludes to a passion for baking
Bendlet Reversed	Séguin, HMCS Cornerbrook & 5th Maritime Operations Group (shown here).	The four Azure bendlets in the badge are blazoned as "reversed". Sometimes bend reversed is used in place of the more traditional term bend sinister.
Bighorn Sheep	Conservation Officer Service	The great sheep of the lower slopes of the Rockies and Selkirks.
Birch-bark	Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, Vol V, P 68	The use of birch-bark in the pale of these arms represents the Ojibway culture. It also alludes to the birch-bark canoes used in the fur trade era of Canadian history.
Bison-Lion	Bryant, J.B., Vol VI, P 257	The Winged Bison-Lion has a number of significances. The first is found in the arms of Manitoba, where the grantee was born. The leonine hindquarters refer to a ring of eight lions found in her shield. The wings refer to her service in the RCAF.
Bison	MacDonald, Rural Municipality (Supporter)	Another example of a bison, this time as a supporter.
Bivouac	Carrière	Three muskets or rifles piled to support one another are said to be in "bivouac". The illustration unfortunately does not depict the way in which muskets or rifles are stacked in reality.
Black Rod of Senate	Christopher, T., Vol V, P 42	The Black Rod held by the eagle in this crest refers to the grantee’s service as the Usher of the Black Rod in the Canadian senate.
Black Walnut Tree	Brown, A. S., Vol V, P 234	The Black Walnut Tree, as shown in the crest, is a native tree of Ontario.
Blockhouse	3 Area Support Group, Oromocto, NB, (Badge) Vol V, P 322	The blockhouse is a distinctive historical military structure found within many provinces, especially in Atlantic Canada.
Blueberry	3 Air Maintenance Squadron. Vol III, P 386	The Blueberry, plentiful almost everywhere in Canada, was an important fruit widely used by early settlers.
Blue Flag Flower	Official Flowers of Canada.	The Blue Flag is the Provincial flower of Quebec.
Bluebunch Wheatgrass	Guichon, J.I. Vol VI. P 361	Bluebunch Wheatgrass is a grass of Western North America. It is used primarily as a grazing food for livestock.
Blue Jay	Province of PEI, Vol IV, p 195	The common, delightfully noisy and friendly jay of the Eastern US and Canada. It is the official Provincial bird of PEI.
Bookwheel	John, C.R., (Crest) Vol VI, P 435	The Bookwheel (sometimes called a reading wheel) was a 16th-century invention for consulting several books at once. It alludes to a family’s love of books.
Bovine Skull	Air Cadet Summer Training Centre – Penhold, Alta., (Badge) Vol 4, P 166	The Bovine Skull alludes to the Cattle ranching of Alberta, and refers specifically to the badge of Canadian Forces Base Penhold.
Bow (fabric)	National Council of Women of Canada. Vol II, P233	These arms are blazoned as Argent a maple leaf Gules charged with a ribbon knotted to form a bow Or all within an orle of twelve like bows Azure. The knotting of the ribbons alludes to the idea of solidarity within the group or council. The bows themselves suggest the work done by women.
Branding Iron	Gibson	An instrument for marking cattle, horses, etc, for identification, as held by the sea-lion illustrated.
Bufflehead Duck	Town of Sidney, BC, Vol III, P 135	The Bufflehead Duck, shown here as a supporter, is a small North American duck. The name bufflehead is a combination of “buffalo” and “head”, referring to the odd shape of the bird’s head.
Bulrushes	Township of South Frontenac, Vol VI, P 220	The Bulrushes (seen here in cross) refer to the many lakes of the township, and allude to the natural setting and recreation aspects of the area.