- The Governor General of Canada
The contents of this Register are intended for research purposes only. The heraldic emblems found in the Register may not be reproduced in any form or in any media without the written consent of the Canadian Heraldic Authority and/or the recipient.
Joint Task Force X
Kingston, Ontario
Approval of a Badge
March 15, 2013
Vol. VI, p. 218
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Badge
Per saltire Argent and Purpure, in chief and in base a raven displayed Sable, in the flanks a Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife proper surmounted by an escutcheon Argent charged with a rose Gules;
Motto
QUAERITE ET INVENIETIS;
Symbolism
Badge
The purple colour represents the joint nature of the unit while the white represents the integrity of the members of the Joint Task Force X (JTF X). The X division recalls the name of the unit as well as Camp X, the Second World War special operations training camp, which has historical links to JTF X. In First Nations mythology, the raven is a guardian, a bringer of knowledge, a trickster, a shape shifter and a cunning creature. As such, it represents the sources handlers and interrogators of JFT X. Its black colour symbolizes the clandestine nature of the unit’s covert role. The shields represent the force protection aspect of JTF X. The red rose was a Roman symbol of secrecy, and it is currently used by many North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) intelligence units. The Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife was originally issued to the first Canadian Source Handlers who were trained at Camp X and has appeared in capability badges of previous Canadian human intelligence (HUMINT) units. It symbolizes targeting and striking, two primary roles of the unit.
Motto
This Latin phrase means “Seek and you shall find”.
Background
Canada Gazette Information
The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on November 30, 2013, in Volume 147, page 2704 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Original concept of Manon Labelle, Miramichi Herald, assisted by the heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
Painter
Robert Grey
Calligrapher
Shirley Mangione
Recipient Information
Military Institution
Military