Martin Goldstraw wrote:Arthur Radburn wrote:Most heraldry authorities (Flanders being an exception that comes to mind) do not specify the helmet in the blazon. One of them (Lord Lyon?) has been known to use the phrase "on a helm befitting his degree" in blazons.
In recent grants (Scottish) successive Lords Lyon have used the phrase "above the shield is placed an helm befitting the degree* of baron" in grants to feudal barons however, in normal grants the phrase "above the shield is placed an helm befitting his degree*" is used. In my humble opinion it would have been far better to stick to the more general "above the shield is placed an helm befitting his degree" for everyone and simply illustrate the appropriate helm.
In an armorial achievement, the helm should always be that befitting the armiger's degree. Neither an astronaut's helmet nor a policeman's helmet depict the armiger's degree*, they are nothing more than part of their job uniform.
*Please note that here the word "degree" means station in life (or in the old fashioned sense rank), not a university qualification.
I wouldn't be as strict as you, but I think an official record like the Canadian roll of arms should be more restrained, it could easily being seen as granting the right to an astronaut's helmet, and raising a lot of questions of who is entitled to what.
One interpretation would be that the CNA views astronaut as a sort of knight. Now, we know that they don't, but only because we have an answer from someone who asked.
In other cases, such as First Nation's headdresses there could be a whole can of worms on who is entitled to them.
Really the CHA is exercising artistic license, but not taking proper consideration of their official status.