Heraldry is now. Heraldry is fun. And most of all, heraldry is Canadian! A Canadian Heraldic Primer dispels, once and for all, the myth that coats of arms are boring, snobbish, mediaeval holdovers that have no relevance today. Using cartoons, humour, and not a little irreverence (in which is concealed a surprising amount of information), Kevin Greaves explains the history behind heraldry's unique conventions and language, and explores its creative possibilities. He shows heraldry as part of the fabric of Canada's past, present, and future, and illustrates how this lively art has become livelier since Canada became master of its own heraldic system in 1988.

Heraldry is now. Heraldry is fun. And most of all, heraldry is Canadian! A Canadian Heraldic Primer dispels, once and for all, the myth that coats of arms are boring, snobbish, mediaeval holdovers that have no relevance today. Using cartoons, humour, and not a little irreverence (in which is concealed a surprising amount of information), Kevin Greaves explains the history behind heraldry's unique conventions and language, and explores its creative possibilities. He shows heraldry as part of the fabric of Canada's past, present, and future, and illustrates how this lively art has become livelier since Canada became master of its own heraldic system in 1988.

Winner of the 2005 Ontario Printing and Imaging Association Excellence in Print Awards Best of Category, and of the 2005 International Gallery of Superb Printing Gold Award for Superb Craftsmanship Since the creation of the Canadian honours system in 1967, more than 250,000 Canadians have been rewarded, yet little has been written about it. This full-colour illustrated book recounts the history of Canada’s various national orders, decorations, and medals, from New France’s Croix de St. Louis, through the British Order of the Bath, to modern Canadian awards such as the General Campaign Star. Each award in the modern Canadian honours system is examined in detail, including historical background, design, and criteria for bestowal. With special chapters on heraldry, protocol, and the proper mounting and wear of medals, it is an essential reference for anyone interested in Canadian honours.

The Canadian Crown is a unique institution that has been integral to our ideals of democracy from its beginning in 16th-century New France. Canadians enjoy one of the most stable forms of government on the planet, but there is a crisis in our understanding of the role the Crown plays in that government. Media often refer to the governor general as the Canadian head of state, and the queen is frequently misidentified in Canada as only the British monarch, yet she has been queen of Canada since 1952. Even government publications routinely cast the Crown as merely a symbolic institution with no impact on the daily lives of Canadians — this is simply not true. Errors such as these are echoed in school textbooks and curriculum outlines. Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy has been written to counter the misinformation given to Canadians, reintroducing them to a rich institution integral to our ideals of democracy and parliamentary government. Nathan Tidridge presents the Canadian Crown as a colourful and unique institution at the very heart of our Confederation, exploring its history from its beginnings in 16th-century New France, as well as its modern relationships with First Nations, Honours, Heraldry, and the day-to-day life of the country.

The first book to examine the various parliamentary maces, rods, badges, and chains of office used throughout Canada, Canadian Symbols of Authority details how these devices are used at every level of government, emphasizing how, like the Crown itself, they embody continuity in an ever-changing world. Symbols of authority are not only emblems of democracy and authority but they are part of the diverse heraldic and artistic heritage of Canada. Despite Canada’s rich symbolic and ceremonial heritage, little has been written about the nations various symbols of authority or the offices that are associated with them. From the Great Maces of the Senate and House of Commons to the Chancellors Chain of the Order of Canada and Baton of the Chief Herald, the development of Canada’s symbols of authority encompasses the past 250 years of Canadian history. Richly illustrated, this book is the most comprehensive study yet undertaken of the origins, history, and development of parliamentary maces.