Badge of the Communications Security Establishment

[edit] History

In response to a request from the Chief of CSE, a warrant authorizing the creation of a badge was signed by the Deputy Herald Chancellor of the Canadian Heraldic Authority (at that time, Lieutenant-General James Cyrille Gervais), on January 26th, 1994. The CSE badge was granted by the Chief Herald of Canada, under the authority of the Governor General (at that time, Raymon John Hnatyshyn), on July 15th, 1994, to mark the 48th anniversary of the organization’s founding. The badge is registered in the Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada, Vol. II, page 326. ^[1]

The notice of registration was published in Part I of the Canada Gazette, Vol. 128, No. 49, page 4584, on December 3, 1994.[1]

[edit] Description

The Letters Patent issued by the Canadian Heraldic Authority describes the badge as: Azure a bezant charged with a maple leaf Gules thereon a key palewise wards upward to the dexter its bow enfiled by two lightning flashes in saltire Or the whole within an annulus Or fimbriated and inscribed NUNTIUM COMPARAT ET CUSTODIT in letter Azure and ensigned by a representation of the Royal Crown.

[edit] Significance

According to information provided on CSE’s website[2], use of the Royal Crown was approved by the Queen. The blue circle represents the world of information and the gold circle and maple leaf symbolize Canada. The lightning flashes denote communications, while the key represents the secure and sensitive nature of the information which CSE provides and protects. The motto is a Latin translation of the phrase “Providing and Protecting Information”.

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Letters Patent, issued July 15th, 1994, Rideau Hall, Ottawa