Cathy Bursey-Sabourin has been Fraser Herald at the Canadian Heraldic Authority in Ottawa since 1989. She is the principal artist of the Authority. Bursey-Sabourin has been responsible for the paintings made for the arms of the last five Governors General of Canada and the Coat of arms of Canada.
Designed by the artist the maple leaf emblem symbolizing Ottawa, in an arrangement with two smaller leaves representing the two sciences - genealogy and heraldry - was an official emblem[1] of the 22nd International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences held in 1996 in Ottawa.
In 2005 Boursey-Sabourin designed the Governor General's Northern Medal.[2]