Michener's Coat of Arms

In the fall of 1995, The Canadian Heraldic Authority granted a coat of arms, a distinctive honour, to The Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences.

Heraldry traces its origins to the medieval field of battle where knights encased in amour decorated their shields and helmets to identify themselves to their friends and allies in the heat of conflict. Conferring these symbols came to be regarded as the prerogative of the king, who granted the resulting coat of arms as a mark of honour to those who had distinguished themselves in his service. The colourful heraldic vocabulary that describes it has survived from about the 13th century.

The explanation of Michener's coat of arms is as follows:

Shield

The most important element of a coat of arms is the escutcheon, or shield. Michener's blue-and-gold shield represents the lifelong service of the Rt. Hon. Roland Michener, Canada's twentieth Governor General, after whom The Michener Institute is named. On this border are placed, at the upper left, upper right and in the base, three closed books in blue with clasps of gold, symbolizing education.

Crest

Above the shield and resting on a helm (helmet), The Michener demi-lion, a classical symbol of strength, holds the rod of Aesculapius, representing medicine. It rises out of a circlet of trillium flowers representing Ontario. The body of this lion is set with narrow gold rectangles on the vertical - a heraldic symbol for computerization and technology.

Supporters

The stag and doe supporting the crest and shield represent the men and women who are teachers and students at The Michener Institute. At the neck, each carries a collar of blue cord with a circular blue pendant; on the pendant is a gold flask symbolizing applied research.

Motto

The Michener Institute's motto, "Through knowledge to health", translated into Latin (Per Scientiam Ad Salutem), provides the foundation for all other elements within the coat of arms.