Name: Barry Gabriel

Arms: Granted by the Chief Herald of Canada in 1998.

Motto: «Service Above Self God Above All»

Artist: Gordon Macpherson, FHSC

Blazon: Per pale Gules and Argent issuant from base a Celtic cross between in chief dexter a decrescent and sinister a mullet all counterchanged; and for a crest: Upon a helmet mantled Gules doubled Argent within a wreath of these colours issuant from a coronet the rim set above with two salmon naiant undy and respectant Argent each holding in its mouth an acorn Or the demi figure of the Archangel Gabriel habited in traditional Mi’kmaq dress proper nimbed Or winged Argent holding in its dexter hand a lily proper; and for a motto: SERVICE ABOVE SELF • GOD ABOVE ALL.

The arms are based on the Mi'kmaq flag, which woud be, if hanging vertically from the fly would be Argent a passion (Latin) cross gules in dexter chief a decrescent and sinister chief a mullet of the second. I changed the cross to a Celtic cross to visually symbolize my Irish and Scottish ancestors. Its issuing from base is purely a design choice. The shield was counterchanged to symbolize my paternal native roots (Gules) and my maternal European roots (Argent). The fact that they are also Canada's official colors is a happy coincidence. The cross counterchanging symbolizes the cross-cultural influence of both races upon each other. The decresent and mullet (star) are heavenly symbols and are also symbols of Our Lady.
The crest coronet of two salmon holding acorns in their mouths goes back to the Celtic myth of the salmon of wisdom who ate hazelnuts to obtain this wisdom. As there are no hazelnuts here, acorns were substituted. The oak tree from which the acorns derive is native to both Europe and Cape Breton. The salmon also symbolize that my brother and I are identical twins and were the first in our family to obtain a university degree. The angel rising from the coronet is the Archangel Gabriel, a canting on the Gabriel name. As my brother and I have only daughters and the name will disappear, it was suggested to use the Archangel Gabriel as it will always show that the origin of the arms was a Gabriel. He is dressed in traditionnal Mi'kmaq garb to again indicate the native origin of the Gabriel family. He is holding in his right hand a lily, a standard symbol of Gabriel the Archangel and also a symbol of Our Lady who is my patron. The motto is a philosophy which I try to adhere to and was taught to us by our parents when growing up. 

Canada Page VI