Канаданың Бас Геральдистің Қызметі

Head of the Canadian Heraldic Authority

The Chief Herald of Canada is the director of the Canadian Heraldic Authority (CHA) and is responsible for the authority's day to day operations. The chief herald typically handles petitions for arms and makes the grant of arms if the petition meets eligibility requirements. There have been three chief heralds since the CHA's inception in 1988, with Samy Khalid being the latest appointee on 20 May 2020.

The chief herald of Canada is the chief administrative officer of heraldry in Canada, serving as the director of the Canadian Heraldic Authority and is responsible for its day to day operations. The CHA was created by the governor general of Canada after they were authorized to exercise the Sovereign's powers related to heraldry in Canada. Concept designs developed by the assigned herald are reviewed and approved by the chief herald, who also provides the seals on the grant document for the arms. Grants of arms to petitioners are typically made through the chief herald, although the governor general may also issue their own grants through the exercise of their royal prerogative at their discretion.

Shortly after the death of Elizabeth II in September 2022, the chief herald led a procession made up of the governor general and the Privy Council for Canada after they had convened at Rideau Hall to sign the proclamation of accession of Charles III. After the chief herald led the procession outside Rideau Hall, they read aloud the proclamation of the accession in both English and French.

Ceremonial items used by the chief herald include a baton, a collar of office, and a tabard.

The carrying of a baton by heralds was transplanted from British heraldic tradition. The baton of the chief herald of Canada was initially created as a heraldic device featured on the grant of arms for the chief herald in 1989. However, a physical baton was not created for the chief herald until 2006. The baton is made out of arbutus wood and is in length. The baton has a predominantly white background, although its flared out ends are painted red, representing the national colours of Canada. Down the length of the baton is a blue stripe spiral charged with white maple leaves, symbolic of Canada's rivers from which the names of the CHA's other heralds are derived. The chief herald's arms are also painted near the flared out ends of the baton. The baton was painted by Cathy Bursey Sabourin, the Fraser Herald.

The collar of office for the chief herald was unveiled alongside the other collars of office for the CHA's heralds in May 2009 by then Governor General Michaëlle Jean, following a reception to celebrate the CHA's 20th anniversary at Rideau Hall. The collar consists of an interlinked chain resembling Cs, as opposed to the collar of Ss worn by heralds of the College of Arms. The bottom of the collar is the shield of the CHA and a sprig of four maple leaves and an enamelled heraldic badge of the chief herald hung underneath.