A dedication to the study of the art and science of heraldry has been a defining element in Jason Burgoin’s pursuits. A Herald of Arms by inclination, he has maintained a longstanding commitment to the advancement of heraldic knowledge, with more than a decade of leadership and service within the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada. During his tenure, he served as President of the Toronto Branch (2018–2023) and later as National President (2023–2024), contributing to the Society’s development through governance, program delivery, and strategic initiatives.

As a longstanding editor of Hogtown Heraldry, the Toronto Branch’s quarterly publication, he oversaw its development into a flagship journal and contributed to the advancement of heraldic scholarship internationally. In recognition of his contributions in this capacity, he was awarded the Society’s Meritorious Service Award in 2019. He was subsequently elected a Fellow of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada (FRHSC) in 2022, in recognition of his sustained contributions to heraldry.

In parallel, he is the founding chair of the Canadian Heraldic Studies Symposium, an annual forum dedicated to fostering interest in heraldic art and scholarship. Following his tenure with the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada, his engagement in the field continues through independent research, collecting, and participation in affiliated heraldic organizations globally. Through periodic lectures and presentations, he contributes to the advancement of heraldry in Canada and internationally. His areas of interest focus on European heraldry, sigillography, and heraldic bookplates.

Jason maintains an active commitment to volunteer service, supporting a range of not-for-profit and community organizations. He has held multiple leadership roles within St. John Ambulance at the community, regional, and national levels, for which he currently serves as Honours and Awards Chair for the Halton, Hamilton & Haldimand Regional Branch and as a member of the Ontario Council, Ceremonial and Protocol Committee. He also served on the Priory of Canada Chancellor’s Communications team from 2022 to 2024. In recognition of his service, he was admitted to the Order of St. John at the grade of Member in 2020.

At the international level, he is a member of The Equestrian, Secular & Chapterial Order of Saint Joachim, where his service has been recognized through the award of the Grand Master’s Medal (2017) and the Cross of Merit (2019). In 2020, he was appointed Commander of the Canadian Sub-Commandery of Gore-Niagara and advanced to the rank of Knight Commander. In 2024, he was appointed to Grand Chapter, where he now serves as Grand Herald, responsible for the maintenance of the Roll of Arms and the registration and guidance of armorial bearings within the Order.

Known within the Craft as a Worshipful Brother, Jason is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario. He served as Worshipful Master of Dufferin Lodge No. 291, a historic lodge of more than a century’s standing in West Flamborough, Ontario. In 2024, Dufferin Lodge amalgamated to form Flamborough Lodge No. 357, where he continues his membership as a Past Worshipful Master. He is also a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in the Valley of Hamilton, and of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076, the world’s premier Masonic research lodge. His interests include Masonic research, history, and ritual practice, with a focus on the preservation and understanding of traditional forms and principles.

Beyond his professional and community commitments, Jason Burgoin maintains a number of personal pursuits. He is an avid recreational SCUBA diver and former president of the Aquateers of Canada, CFB Borden Scuba Club (now disbanded). With a particular interest in wreck diving, he has explored numerous historic sites across Ontario and has led diving activities for others.

His involvement in the military diving community led to the development of a program supporting Canadian Armed Forces members, first responders, and veterans living with operational stress injuries. The program promotes SCUBA qualifications and structured diving activities within a controlled environment, guided by peers with shared experience. Through this initiative, he has contributed to the delivery of training and organized diving experiences designed to promote confidence, discipline, and long-term recovery, and has supported its development and continued delivery over several years.

He also maintains an interest in historical European martial arts, with a focus on rapier fencing of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as well as in graphology and the art of written correspondence, with a particular appreciation for handwriting as an expression of form and character—a pursuit he approaches as a stylophile.