Canadian Military Symbols

Throughout the history of the Canadian military -- as seen in this brief selection of badges and flags -- the use of many of the symbols traditionally associated with Canada has been, and remains, a prominent feature of the military's identity system. Such symbols have included everything from the maple leaf as shown in the badges of HMCS St. Croix and The Fort Garry Horse and the Canadian Active Service Force Battle flag and the Land Force Command flag, to the beaver as seen in the badges of the Military Engineering Branch and the Royal 22e Régiment, to the fleur-de-lis as seen in the badge of HMCS Chicoutimi, as well as the badge of Le Régiment de la Chaudière, which incorporates all three. The Crown in most military badges reflects the relationship between Her Majesty's Canadian Forces and The Queen, whose representative, the Governor General, is Commander-in-Chief of Canada.

In addition, Aboriginal symbols as well as animals such as the Canada goose and the muskox appear in the badges of the Military Police Branch, 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, and No. 8 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force. Canada's military heritage is largely based on symbols inherited and adopted from British military traditions,including the White Ensign, the Blue Ensign, and the Red Ensign (see also page 16) used in the First and Second World Wars, at Canadian military bases, and in NATO and peacekeeping operations until 1965, when they were replaced by the new Canadian flag and later by newly developed military flags.

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