Symbolism
The center of the badge or crest is divided into three – each representing an element (or service) of the Canadian military: Navy (Navy Blue), Army (Red or Crimson) and Air Force (Grey Blue) with a gold maple leaf in the middle. Each of the three areas features a crown or coronet to identify the service.
St. Edward’s Crown
Surmounting the crest is the crown often referred to as the Queen’s crown. As RAUSI has a royal designation, it is entitled to use this device as part of its identity.
The crown's design includes a base with four cross pattées alternating with four fleurs-de-lis, above which are two arches surmounted by a cross. In the centre is a velvet cap with an ermine border. The actual crown, originally made for King Charles II, is made of solid gold and set with 444 precious stones. Formerly, it was set with jewels hired for the coronation and then the crown was dismantled, leaving only the frame. However, in 1911, the jewels used were set permanently. Although this weighs 4 lbs 12 oz (2155g) it was the crown of choice for Queen Elizabeth II. This badge appears on all but a few of the badges for the Canadian Forces.
Naval or Rostral Crown
The naval crown (made up of alternate sterns and topsails) can be traced back to the Romans when a crown ornamented with a design of the 'rostra' or beak heads was awarded for bravery and was known as the 'Rostral Crown'. It can be seen on certain British Naval medals at the end of the sixteenth century. One of the earliest examples of the Naval crown in, practically its present form, is that which appears above the Arms of Greenwich Hospital dating from about 1700. The decoration, however, is wholly of square sails without the interspersed sterns. This crown is to be printed in gold with the sails in white.
During the eighteenth century, the naval crown in its present form was often used by heralds when granting Arms to naval officers. Lords Nelson, Collingwood and Northesk added the crown to their coats-of-arms. Today it surmounts the badges of British Commonwealth Naval ships.
Castellated (Army) Coronet
Printed in gold, this crown is reminiscent of the turret on a castle (a protective device for archers). The castellated coronet has become known as an heraldic device to represent the Land element or Army.
Aviation Coronet
Printed in gold, this unique coronet consisting of 4 maple leaves supported by four sets of extended eagle wings and ten (6 pointed) stars. This coronet was designed by the Government House herald and can be found on the Canadian Forces Air Command insignia (badge).
Stylized Maple Leaf
The center of the crest features a stylized maple leaf. It is also encircled by a series of 8 green relief maple leaves.
Well before the coming of the first European settlers, Canada's aboriginal peoples had discovered the food properties of maple sap, which they gathered every spring. According to many historians, the maple leaf began to serve as a Canadian symbol as early as 1700.
In 1834, the first St. Jean Baptiste Society in North America made the maple leaf its emblem.
In 1836, Le Canadien, a newspaper published in Lower Canada, referred to it as a suitable emblem for Canada.
In 1848, the Toronto literary annual The Maple Leaf referred to it as the chosen emblem of Canada. By 1860, the maple leaf was incorporated into the badge of the 100th Regiment (Royal Canadians) and was used extensively in decorations for the visit of the Prince of Wales that year.
Alexander Muir wrote The Maple Leaf Forever as Canada's confederation song in 1867; it was regarded as the national song for several decades. The coats of arms created the next year for Ontario and Quebec both included the maple leaf.
The maple leaf appeared on the Canadian penny. Between 1876 and 1901, howerver, it appeared on all Canadian coins. The modern one-cent piece had two maple leaves on a common twig, a design that went almost unchanged since 1937.
During the First World War, the maple leaf was included in the badge of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Since 1921, the Royal Arms of Canada have included three maple leaves as a distinctive Canadian emblem. With the proclamation of Canada's new flag in 1965, the maple leaf has become the most-prominent Canadian symbol.
In 1939, at the time of World War II, many Canadian troops used the maple leaf as a distinctive sign, displaying it on regimental badges and Canadian army and naval equipment.
In 1957, the colour of the maple leaves on the arms of Canada was changed from green to red, one of Canada's official colours.
On 15 February, 1965, the red maple leaf flag was inaugurated as the National Flag of Canada.
Design Origin
The Institute's crest was originally designed and matriculated by the Canadian Herald at Government House in Ottawa.
At the discretion of the serving RAUSI executive, Rod A. McLeod, an artist resident in Calgary, was commissioned to render it in a more useable form.
While the revised art is true to content, certain minor changes were made for usability purposes.
RAUSI holds the exclusive copyright for the crest and it cannot be used without the express written permission of the serving president.