Archdeacon Peter Hannen was born in Montreal, March 23rd, 1935, the only child of Francis Raymond Hannen (later a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec), of Loyalist origin, and his wife Winifred Louise Sorensen, an American of English-Danish origin.

He was educated at Lower Canada College, Montreal; Bishop's College(BA); McGill University (MA); King's College, London (AKC); Montreal Diocesan Theological College (BD, DD (Hon.)). His seminary training was at King's College London in the latter half of the '50s - - a wonderful time to be living in the imperial capital. Ordination to the diaconate took place on May 24th, 1959, in St Paul's Cathedral, London, for service in Thorold, in the Diocese of Niagara, Ontario; ordination to the priesthood was in the cathedral of Hamilton, Ontario, on Nov. 30th, 1959.

A two-year curacy in Thorold was followed by a move back to Montreal in 1961, for a six-year tenure as Rector of Stanbridge East, in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. In 1969, two years after leaving the parish, an almost-abandoned former school-house at the bottom of the church driveway was bought, was re-painted white, and was renamed The White House. Many years and many additions later, it continues to be a place of relaxation and entertainment for friends and relations.

All the rest of his active ministry was served in the city of Montreal: at St Aidan's, for 4 years; at St Columba's and St Saviour's for 27 years (as a canon of the cathedral and later Archdeacon of Montreal), and in the bishop's office as vicar-general of the Diocese of Montreal for eight years, prior to retirement in 2006. Life is now lived between The White House in Stanbridge East and a town-house on the Lachine Canal in Montreal, in what was until recently an industrial slum. All this is interspersed with travelling - - a major "hobby" (especially to Cuba) along with entertaining and gardening and art and antiques ... and heraldry.

His interest in heraldry began in childhood: only-children have vivid imaginations and a rich fantasy life! One memorable book was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The White Company – the blazon of Sir John Chandos's arms remains fixed in memory: Argent a pile Gules. Colonel Strome Galloway was responsible for his membership in the Society in very early days; Dr Kevin Greaves brokered jobs as Master of the Roll and editor of Heraldry in Canada. In 2004 came election as a Fellow of the Society, thus adding to the heraldic bling already enjoyed as an Anglican archdeacon. His priestly life is lived out at the Church of St James the Apostle in downtown Montreal, as an honorary assistant; the life of retirement continues to draw the complaint of every retiree: "How did I ever have time to work?"

Honours and awards

• 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
• 2004 Fellow of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada
• 1992 Grant of Arms, Lyon Court, Edinburgh subsequently registered with the Canadian Heraldic Authority