Official Opening of Armorial Bookplates Exhibit

Exhibit Catalogue available for $20

On a very pleasant, sunny and warm Saturday afternoon on April 26, 2008, between 4:30 - 5:30pm, almost 40 people were present to experience the official opening of the bookplate exhibit. The entire Society's Executive Committee was present, as well as other Board members and Society and Toronto Branch members, as well as Dr. Claire Boudreau, Canada's Chief Herald. The display of the bookplates were suspended on the glass enclosing the library immediately on one's left when entering the library, but visible in the foyer of the library, thus not disturbing the students reading within the library's glass walls. The display included glass cases on the floor, depicting relevant and colourful heraldic books and an interesting display depicting the "process" of creating a bookplate from line sketches to the final product.

Ilona Jurkiewicz, Gordon Macpherson, Dr. Claire Boudreau

The MC for the event was Society's member, Neil Fraser who introduced the John M. Kelly Library's Anna St. Onge, Interim Head, Special Collections, who was instrumental in helping setup the dislay. Ilonaj Jurkiewicz, SHA and Toronto Branch President and an heraldic artist as well, received accolades from all who were in attendance. Ilona also organized the publication of the exhibit's excellent bookplate exhibit catalog (depicted on the right). Gordon was happily signing a good number of the catalogs purchased by the attendess (catalogs - $20).

Click here to view Gordon Macpherson's biography distributed at the Official Opening (pdf format).

Further details of the opening and photographs can be view by clicking here.

For additional details and bookplate online presentation uploaded in 2004 of Gordon Macpherson's bookplates under the "ART OF HERALDRY" area of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada's website, click here.

Medieval Week at the ROM

The Toronto Branch of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada for the second year, organized a presentation and display of heraldry in Canada during the March Break week (March 10 - 14, 2008) at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). The ROM has been developing this event over the past 4-5 years, evolving it as a "medieval" week, complete with medieval swordsmanship (AEMMA), calligraphy, medieval dance, brass rubbings, and longbow archery all interactive displays oriented towards the pleasure and engagement of both kids and adults.

Figure 1: The static display depicting the books, images and arms. Sitting is David Skene-Melvin. The photo was taken just prior to the doors opening at the ROM

The Toronto Branch display was comprised of two areas, the first, a static and informative display of heraldic arms, paintings, carvings and books. This was manned by volunteers from the Toronto Branch including Ilona Jurkiewicz, David Skene-Melvin, Thomas Doran, David Birtwistle to name a few. The ROM also provided additional volunteers to help man the display.

Figure 2: A shot of the kids table where they colour their own coats of arms

The second area was a setup which allowed children to create their own coats of arms under the guidance of a Branch member and a good number of volunteers, including Ilona's daughter. The Branch provided a great many copies of line drawings of various shield designs (per pale, per pale, per bend, bend, chief, chevron, etc.) and examples of charges which provided ideas for the children to be added to their shields. The children armed with colour markers rendered some fairly creative arms. This activity will be enhanced next year to include an on-site computer and scanner so that the Branch can collect the "daily best" and host the image on the Society's website. The table typically had between 10 - 12 children at any one time anxious to draw their own personal coats of arms.

The ROM experienced another successful year for the March Break program, with over 10,000 people going through the museum daily. It goes without saying that the medieval displays and presentations were extremely popular over the course of the week.

Armorial Bookplates Exhibit

The Toronto Branch of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada is organizing a fascinating bookplates exhibit presenting armorial bookplates designed by Gordon Macpherson, Niagara Herald Extraordinary and Officer of the Canadian Heraldic Authority in Ottawa.

Gordon Macpherson is Canada's most well known and respected heraldic artist. Fascinated by heraldry since his student days, Macpherson has since designed and painted the coats of arms granted to many prominent Canadians. He was honoured by the Governor General with the title Niagara Herald Extraordinary in 1999. Some of his of bookplates are on display on the Society's website, in addition, many of the coats of arms designed by Gordon can be viewed on the Society's Roll of Arms. Gordon was also one of the founding founders of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada and continues to remain active within the Society.

A flyer conveying details of the exhibit - designed by Robert Grey, one of a number of Canadian heraldic artists who has created numerous arms for Society members

From St. Michael's College, UofT: Apr 21-may 31 Armorial Bookplates Exhibit The Toronto Branch, Royal Heraldry Society of Canada, in collaboration with Department of Special Collections, J. M. Kelly Library, presents Exhibit of Armorial Bookplates by renowned Canadian craftsman, R. Gordon M. MacPherson

Toronto Branch Annual General Meeting Review

The Toronto Branch, the largest Branch of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada had their annual general meeting on April 5, 2008 at the stately Arts and Letters Club.

The heraldic badge for the Toronto Branch

A new executive for 2008 was nominated and accepted at this meeting. The President of the Branch remains Ilona Jurkiewicz for a second term. The position of Vice President was taken by David Steeves, with Directors repeating another term comprised of David Birtwistle, Thomas Doran and in an advisory capacity, Robbie Sprules, Lord of Wrentnall. The editor of the Hogtown Heraldry will now be David Skene-Melvin, taking the place of David E. Rumball, who was editor of the Branch's newsletter for the past 6 years.

Ilona, herself an accomplished heraldic artist, having personally painted numerous coats of arms on behalf of the Canadian Heraldic Authority in Ottawa has personally taken up the task of organizing and coordinating an Armorial Bookplates Exhibit of bookplates designed and created by Gordon Macpherson, Niagara Herald Extraordinary, to be on display at the John M. Kelly Library at the University of St. Michael's College, UofT between April 21 - May 31, 2008.

Activities for 2008 for the Toronto Branch includes organizing the 4th annual Christmas dinner, typically including a special guest of some notoriety, perhaps Sir Conrad Swan, the Branch's Patron. Other special guests of the past included Vanessa Harwood, past ballerina and choreographer for the Canadian National Ballet Company and also recipient of the Order of Canada. Also, plans for the 2009 Royal Heraldry Society of Canada's Annual General Meeting to be hosted by the Toronto Branch are now underway, as well as plans being worked on for next year's heraldry display and presentation at the Royal Ontario Museum's March Break, mid-March in 2009. This will be the third year that the Toronto Branch has participated in this exciting event.

A 14th Century Heraldic Spectacle in the 21st Century

A late 14th century medieaval tournament was organized by David M. Cvet, President and Founder of the Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts (AEMMA) on Saturday, March 15th at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). The ROM offered

Figure 1: L-R: David Cvet, David Rumball (Appellants' Herald), Matt Dreger (Defendants' Pursuivant) - photo by Jim Atack

its large Currelly Gallery as the venue for the event. The possibility of holding a tournament had been discussed for a number of years within AEMMA and the last couple of years, with the ROM. The vision remained steadfast with a strong desire to achieve a balance between a mix of pomp, ceremony and martially-oriented armoured bouts. This was achieved

Figure 2: Robbie Sprules and his wife, Lucinda lead the opening procession into the fighting lists - photo by Gail J. Smith

on that day. The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada was represented in this unique event with David E. Rumball (LRHSC) in the role of “Appellants' Herald” (see image on the right). Further representation by the Society was Robbie Sprules, Lord of Wrentnall and his wife, Lady Lucinda. Robbie was the Patron of the tournament in keeping with tournament traditions and who also infused a level of dignity and credibility to the tournament proceedings.

The most notable aspect of the tournament from a heraldic perspective was the opening ceremony, in which the tournament officials including two Heralds and two Pursuivants all wearing exceptional

Figure 3: Dr. Robert Mason and Robbie Sprules reviewing the combatants list - photo by Peter Yu.

heraldic tabards followed by ten fully armoured combatants processed into the lists, each individual being lead by a standard bearer. Most of the combatants also wore jupons depicting their personal coat of arms. The Appellants' Herald's (David Rumball’s) tabard bore the arms of the Ottawa Medieval Sword Guild (OMSG) and the arms of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada. The term “Appellants” refers to the “away team”. The Defendants' Pursuivant's tabard, depicted in the image above right worn by AEMMA student Matt Dreger, depicts the arms of the various armoured members of AEMMA Toronto. The reverse of the same tabard bears four other arms, for a total of eight arms. Note that David's jupon bears his personal arms.

Figure 4: Russ Howe wearing his jupon depicting his arms, clearing indicating Austrian origins - photo by Gail J. Smith

The Defendants' Herald's tabard (see image below) bears the arms of AEMMA (its petition is completed, and awaiting the Letters Patent), and the arms of the Friends of the Medieval Studies Society of the ROM, or the FMSS. This was worn by the Curator of the Near East Department, Dr. Robert Mason. The tabard is the same front and rear.

The Appellants' Pursuivant's tabard (not shown) bears the arms of the current armoured combatants who form the OMSG group in Ottawa. There are eight arms on that tabard as well.

Some of the tournament volunteers also wore their jupons, even though they were not participating in the armoured bouts. One such individual was Russ Howe, a member of AEMMA who will be ready for the armoured tournament in 2009, and who is also a member of the Society.

The tabards were created by an AEMMA student by the name of Ralf Siferd and his wife Ruth. They had generously donated all four tabards including their time and materials to AEMMA. These will be used for many years to come.

Figure 5: David Cvet battling Dale Gienow from Muskoka with steel longswords - photo by Jim Atack

Combats were conducted with spear, pollaxe, sword and dagger. The bouts were timed to a maximum of three minutes or until one of the following victory conditions were met:

1. three landed blows with the point within the limbs and neck,
2. unbalanced and cast down,
3. forced from the lists,
4. disarmed of all weapons carried.

In all, twenty combats were conducted throughout the afternoon, each appellant free to choose the weapon or weapons of choice for the bout. At the conclusion of the tournament, the outcome was an equal number of victories for the Appellants and Defendants.

Mathieu Ravignat from the OMSG, and also, a recent member of the Society, was awarded by Lady Lucinda, wife of the Lord of Wrentnall a ceremonial Scottish Great Sword being identified as the "best amongst equals".

Figure 6: Mathieu Ravignat accepting the award from Robbie Sprules and Lady Lucinda for "best amongst equals" - photo by Gail J. Smith

It was remarked by many spectators, who offered their comments after the tournament, that they had never seen anything like this and all were suitably impressed. The ROM was also very happy with the event and expressed a desire to pursue this again next year. The ROM on that Saturday was capacity, with hundreds upon hundreds of people awaiting entry into the ROM, lining eastward on Bloor St. and south on University Ave. It had the appearance of a lineup to a “rock concert”!

1. three landed blows with the point within the limbs and neck,
2. unbalanced and cast down,
3. forced from the lists,
4. disarmed of all weapons carried.

In all, twenty combats were conducted throughout the afternoon, each appellant free to choose the weapon or weapons of choice for the bout. At the conclusion of the tournament, the outcome was an equal number of victories for the Appellants and Defendants.

Figure 7: David Murphy battling Mat Ravignat (OMSG) with poleaxe - photo by Jim Atack

Mathieu Ravignat from the OMSG, and also, a recent member of the Society, was awarded by Lady Lucinda, wife of the Lord of Wrentnall a ceremonial Scottish Great Sword being identified as the "best amongst equals".

Figure 8: One side of the tournament medallion depicting the AEMMA arms, the reverse indicting date and location of the tournament. These were presented to each of the combatants at the banquet. Designed and created by Nicolas Facundo-Rico.

After the tournament, a good number of combatants and other participants, friends and family attended the medieval banquet at AEMMA's salle d'armes. With the salle beautifully decorated with arms of all of the combatants depicted on wooden shields, standards, banners, wrought iron candelabras, a medieval musical ensemble and demonstrations of medieval dancing, the banquet achieved what it may have been like in the medieval period. After some remarks and short speeches, Lady Lucinda awarded to each of the armoured combatants a tournament medallion. The medallions were created by an AEMMA student Nicolas Facundo-Rico.

The ROM and AEMMA will host another tournament mid-March in 2009 once again, with the possibility of turning this into an annual event. Being the first time, some minor adjustments and tuning will be required resulting in an event which will be even more spectacular next year!

Heraldry is alive and well in Canada...

Personal experience gained from comments and questions received while putting on a heraldry display by the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada or RHSC, at the Royal Ontario Museum or ROM this past March during their March Break clearly indicates that most people are quite surprised that heraldry continues to be practiced in Canada. Most people think that heraldry died out with the medieval period and the second common perception noted was that heraldry is only available in the realm of nobles.

It is quite clear, that heraldry did NOT die out, and is quite alive, not only in Canada, but in the USA and most countries in Europe and even Russia and other Eastern European countries. It should also be known that heraldry is available to ALL Canadians, simply by petitioning to the Canadian Heraldic Authority in Ottawa for a personal coat of arms. What is extremely fascinating of this practice is that it has been an integral part of human history for the past 1,000 years. There is no need to put it to bed so to speak, and it is up to people today to continue this practice and ensure that it continues to remain viable into the future.

The Society has a number of Branches including the Toronto Branch which has periodic social events and dinners, including an annual Christmas Dinner. Other activities include a heraldic presentation at the Royal Ontario Museum, and organizing an event displaying bookplates designed and created by Canada's leading and long time heraldic artist Gordon Macpherson.