Un emblème patriotique inclusif / An Inclusive Patriotic Emblem
Un emblème patriotique inclusif
Deux exemplaires du drapeau du Québec, adopté en 1948, dominent la composition héraldique ci-dessous. Au centre, sur les hampes croisées des drapeaux, figurent les armoiries du Canada assignées par proclamation royale en 1921. Le ruban émergeant de chaque côté de l’écu accompagne trois feuilles d’érable. Dans les années 1950, la fleur de lis s’impose de plus en plus comme marque distinctive du Québec, mais la feuille d’érable demeure un symbole important dans la province et jouit d’une grande popularité comme symbole du Canada. Le flambeau émanant de l’arrière de l’écu occupe la place d’un cimier héraldique. Sur le plan symbolique, il peut évoquer l’idée d’ouvrir la voie ou de viser un but comme en témoigne l’expression « porter le flambeau ». Il symbolise parfois l’illumination intellectuelle, ce qui est approprié pour une image au dos d’un manuel scolaire.
Depuis des siècles, les héraldistes prêchent sur les toits que la simplicité est la vertu primordiale de la bonne héraldique, ce qui implique souvent la recherche d’un seul symbole unificateur. Néanmoins, la recherche d’inclusivité qui entraîne l’assemblage de plusieurs symboles persiste dans les armoiries et drapeaux des collectivités au Canada et sans doute dans beaucoup d’autres pays. Il suffit d’examiner dans ce sens les emblèmes nationaux, municipaux et ceux des sociétés, comme les associations de familles, qui se retrouvent dans votre milieu.
Source: Ils ont fait notre pays, histoire du Canada, manuel de 3e année, Montréal, Les Frères des écoles chrétiennes, 1953, au dos de la couverture arrière.
An Inclusive Patriotic Emblem
Two examples of the flag of the Province of Quebec, adopted in 1948, are the dominant features of the above heraldic composition. Over the flag poles, which are crossed diagonally, appears the shield of the armorial bearings of Canada assigned by royal proclamation in 1921. A ribbon emerging from both sides of the shield accompanies three maple leaves. In the 1950s, the fleur-de-lis was becoming the dominant identifier of the Province of Quebec, but the maple leaf remained an important symbol in the province and was increasingly recognized as the distinctive mark of Canada. The torch, issuing from behind the shield, occupies the place where the heraldic crest normally appears. It can embody the notion of leading the way or working towards a goal as suggests the expression “carry the torch.” It sometimes symbolizes intellectual illumination which is appropriate to illustrate a schoolbook as does the above image.
For centuries, heraldists have preached from rooftops that simplicity is the paramount virtue of heraldry, which often means the search for a single unifying symbol. Nevertheless, the desire to be inclusive which involves bringing together several symbols persists in the coats of arms and flags of communities in Canada and undoubtedly in other countries. Readers need only examine, from this point of view, the national and municipal emblems in their own surroundings as well as those of corporate entities such as family associations.
For centuries, heraldists have preached from rooftops that simplicity is the paramount virtue of heraldry, which often means the search for a single unifying symbol. Nevertheless, the desire to be inclusive which involves bringing together several symbols persists in the coats of arms and flags of communities in Canada and undoubtedly in other countries. Readers need only examine, from this point of view, the national and municipal emblems in their own surroundings as well as those of corporate entities such as family associations.