Claire Boudreau

Claire Boudreau (1965 – November 17, 2020) was a Canadian historian, genealogist, and officer of arms, serving as Chief Herald of Canada from June 26, 2007 to May 20, 2020.

Life and career

Boudreau served as a herald in the Canadian Heraldic Authority beginning on March 17, 1997, when she was appointed to the office of Saguenay Herald. She would be promoted to Saint-Laurent Herald in 2000, succeeding Auguste Vachon on his retirement. Boudreau was the principal designer and administrator of the authority's pioneering online Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada, which was unveiled in July 2005. Boudreau would later be appointed as the first Deputy Chief Herald of Canada on December 1, 2005, serving in this role until June 26, 2007, when she was made the second Chief Herald of Canada following the retirement of Robert Watt. In addition to her work as an officer of arms at the Canadian Heraldic Authority, Boudreau was also a nationally and internationally recognized scholar in heraldic studies and was the author of many articles and publications. On May 20, 2020, Boudreau retired and was succeeded as Chief Herald of Canada by Samy Khalid.

Death

On November 18, 2020, it was announced that Boudreau died due to cancer at the age of 55.

Honours

Boudreau was made an Academician of the Académie Internationale d'Héraldique in 2000 and a fellow of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada in 2006. On May 20, 2020, Boudreau was appointed Margaree-Chéticamp herald emeritus on her retirement as Chief Herald of Canada.

Arms

Publications L'héritage Symbolique des Hérauts d'Armes: Dictionnaire Encyclopédique de l'Enseignement du Blason Ancien (XIVe-XVIe siècle) (Le Léopard d'or, Paris, 2006).