Bishops have an ecclesiastical hat called a galero (green heraldic color) with six tassels on each side.

The shield is placed on a processional cross with a crossbar. This cross without corpus represents the heart of the Gospel: Christ died for us, but God resurrected him. The shield is made up of three shapes recalling the Trinity.

The golden star is present on the national flag of Acadia and it represents Saint Mary, the Star of the Sea (Stella maris) who guides sailors to safe harbor, but also humanity towards Christ. The Virgin of the Assumption is the patron saint of the diocese of Bathurst.

The coat of arms strewn with fleur-de-lys, with two crosiers passed in saltire, represents the Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré to which Msgr Proulx belongs. It is a canonical order founded by Saint Norbert at the beginning of the 12th century. The designation "o. praem.", affixed after the name of the Premonstratensian religious, is the Latin abbreviation of "Ordinis praemontratensis" translating quite simply as "of the Order of Premonstratensian."

The color blue, which is predominant throughout, is both the Marian color and the color of the Order of Prémontré.

The Bible, which the Bishop is particularly fond of, recalls his long career as a professor of exegesis. The candle evokes the words of Psalm 119.105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

The motto in Latin, "Sub Lumine Verbi," means, "Enlightened by the Word." Bishop Proulx wants his entire episcopal ministry to be inspired and enlightened by the word of God.