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 The Canadian Heraldic Authority (CHA; french: Autorité héraldique du Canada) is part of the Canadian honours system under the Canadian monarch, whose authority is exercised by the Governor General of Canada. The authority is responsible for t ...

(at that time, Lieutenant-General James Cyrille Gervais), on January 26, 1994. The CSE badge was granted by the

Chief Herald of Canada Chief Herald of Canada is the title held by the head of the Canadian Heraldic Authority. The Chief Herald of Canada directs the operations of the Canadian Heraldic Authority and makes the grants of arms. There are exceptions to this, such as certa ...

, under the authority of the

Governor General Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy ...

(at that time, Raymon John Hnatyshyn), on July 15, 1994, to mark the 48th anniversary of the organization's founding; it was officially presented to the Chief on October 19, 1994. The badge is registered in the

Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada The Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada contains the heraldic emblems that have been granted, registered, approved or confirmed by the Canadian Heraldic Authority since its inception on June 4, 1988. In 2005, the Canadian Heraldic ...

, Vol. II, page 326.Letters Patent, issued July 15th, 1994, Rideau Hall, Ottawa The notice of registration was published in Part I of the ''

Canada Gazette The ''Canada Gazette'' (french: Gazette du Canada) is the official government gazette of the Government of Canada. It was first published on October 2, 1841. While it originally published all acts of the Parliament of Canada, it later also publ ...

'', Vol. 128, No. 49, page 4584, on December 3, 199

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''.

Significance

According to information provided by the Canadian Heraldic Authority, use of the Royal Crown was approved by the Queen on or about July 7, 1994. 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".

Pennant

As part of the organization's 50th anniversary, a swallowtail pennant bearing CSE's heraldic badge was introduced. The pennant was first raised by the Chief of CSE on September 6, 1996, during a noon ceremony at the Sir Leonard Tilley Building. Since then, the pennant was flown at each of CSE's buildings, beneath the Canadian flag. It now flies on its own pole next to the Canadian flag, at the new Edward Drake Building.

External links

The CSE Badge

Notes