Arms: The cross indicates the armiger’s Christian faith, and the ermine pattern alludes to the ermine in the arms of Lincolnshire England, from where his paternal ancestors resided. The caltrops are a medieval weapon and thus allude to his career in the Canadian Armed Forces and interest in military history. They are places in an arrangement of two over one in Or [gold], as a reference to the fleur-de-lis in the Kingdom of France Armorial bearings where the armiger’s family emanates, and further placed in quartering 1 and 4 to draw on those of early armorial bearings of England, from the period of time when his paternal family is known to have arrived in England. The martlet, which appears in other Burgoyne arms, (Sir John Burgoyne, 1st Baronet 1641 / Gen. John Burgoyne 1722-1792) is a bird always in flight and thus represents a constant seeking of knowledge and adventure. The field of Gules [red] is the colour of the Canadian Army, while Sable [black] alludes to constancy and prudence. In addition, the arms are in a similar layout as those of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and allude to his maternal grandmother's lineage from this province of Canada.
Crest: The tiger is one of the supporters of the arms of Hamilton, Ontario, the armiger’s birthplace. The use of the heraldic form of the tiger (tyger) alludes to the armiger’s vast knowledge and passion for heraldry. The torch symbolizes enlightenment and reflects his involvement and membership in the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons fraternity. The collar and the chain, inspired by livery collars and chains of office, represent his support and loyalty to the Crown and the Sovereign, as well as his call to service in various offices of leadership.
Motto: Taken from the beginning of a Quaker proverb first recorded c. 1859. "I PASS THROUGH THIS WORLD BUT ONCE, therefore if there may be any kindness I can show or any good that I can do, to any fellow being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." View fullsize Badge: The face of the heraldic tyger is taken from the crest, and the cross alludes to that in the arms. Together, these two elements link his ancestor’s past with the present.
Born in “Steel City” Hamilton and raised primarily in the Windsor and Essex County region of Ontario, Canada, Jason is the son of Danny Walter Burgoin and Kim Lorry Webster, and stepson to Wallace Frances Manning. He attended Huron University College at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada, where he studied Globalization and Government.
A herald of arms by inclination, Jason is an active member of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada, and currently holds the offices of National First Vice President (2019-present) and President of the Toronto Branch (2018-present). In 2019 he was honoured with the Society’s Meritorious Service Award, and is the long-standing editor of Hogtown Heraldry, the quarterly publication of the Society’s Toronto Branch. Jason chairs the Heraldic Arts Symposium planning committee, and the Societies Platinum Jubilee Committee in addition to building on other initiatives to see the society more engaged on a global scale. In 2022 Jason was elected a Fellow of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada, One of the most prestigious honour confirmed by the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada on individuals who demonstrated a superior knowledge of, and made significant contributions to, the fields of heraldic scholarship, art, armory, chivalry or analogous subjects as they relate to Heraldry in Canada. His thirst for research into the art and science of heraldry spans far beyond the borders of Canada; with a special interest in European heraldry, as it relates to Great Britain and France, It was through this study of heraldry that peeked him to the ancient art of sigillography and the collection of bookplates.
In 2001 Jason joined the Canadian Armed Forces and received a commission as an Officer in the Canadian Army, wherein he currently holds the rank of Captain. His career has provided him with many rewarding and challenging opportunities throughout his time as a reserve officer. Windsor, Ontario is where where he got his start as a CIC Officer with the Cadet Organization Administration and Training Service, subsequent training and development in positions at ASU London, CFB Trenton, CFB Borden, CFB Valcartuer before taking a posted as a full-time reservist to CFB Borden.
In 2013 Captain Burgoin was appointed the J4 Regional Transportation Officer at the Regional Cadet Support Unit (Central) headquarters, and subsequently, in 2017, appointed the J5 Cadet Training Centre Plans Officer, where he was responsible for overseeing the operational requirement, infrastructure, and staffing for six training centres across the province of Ontario.
In 2021, after spending eight years at CFB Borden, Captain Burgoin accepted his current position as the J3 Zone Training Officer for the Niagara Greater Toronto Area of the Canadian Cadet Organization headquarters at Denison Armoury in Toronto. He is responsible for overseeing the training and operational capacities of Corps and Squadrons throughout the Halton, Peel and the Niagara peninsula.
Website: www.jasonburgoin.com/about-me
