heraldist2

Vol. 12, no.2 (April 2000)

3. DIVISIONAL BADGES

        A word needs to be said about the Divisional badges. There is one for each of the
operational Divisions of the RCMP, as well as Headquarters, Commissioner's Office, Depot
Division and Equitation which generally incorporate features found on the corresponding
provincial coats of arms. [A large number of examples were cited.]

4. THE RCMP TARTAN

      Any discussion of RCMP symbols would not be complete without a brief discussion of the
most recent addition, the RCMP Tartan. As many of us know, tartans have long been regarded as
a means of expressing a sense of identity. a Sense of belonging to a family, a sense of
tradition. To this end, a wide variety of entities have adopted distinctivc tartans to
express their identity, provinces, cities, universities. corporations, police departments and
many others.

        The tartan with other Celtic traditions and bagpipe music, have long been associated
with the Mounted Police, at regimental weddings, funerals, parades. ceremonial occasions and
mess functions. In addition, pipers and pipe bands have repre-sented major police forces
throughout Canada for well over 100 years. Flowing out of this tradition in the past several
years has been the belief that the RCMP should adopt an official tartan of of its own.

        As early ar 1975, some thought had been given to granting official recognition to a
so-called North-West Mounted Police tartan designed two years previously during the centennial
celebrations of the Mounted Police, and in the first years of this decade, more than one
proposal for a tartan was submitted to senior executive, all to no avail. Early in 1997,
however, in a swell of enthusiasm created by the 125th anniversary celebrations of the RCMP.
Corps Sergeant Major Yvon Mercier
(a long-time advocate of a RCMP Tartan) and a small group of like-minded individuals were
given another opportunity to state their case. With the 124th anniversary fast approaching,
tartan supporters had precious little time to find an acceptable design, see it through the
approval phase within the RCMP and with Scottish tartan officials, have it manufactured and
distributed as a commemoration of the 125th.

        A committee was formed, with representatives from all across the RCMP, to find a
suitable design and sell it to senior executives. The Committee invited submissions and
amongst dozens of well executed designs, they were particularly taken with one from Violet
Holmes, an artist and wife of a retircd RCMP Assistant Commissioner. Mrs. Holmes had spent
several years on the concept of a RCMP tartan, her design evoked the very tradition and
heritage that was so important to capture in the colours and design of the tartan. Armed with
a conviction that the Holmes design was most appropriate, the Committee tended to a myriad of
details in order to have the tartan approved and accepted -- submissions to RCMP senior
executive, accreditation by the Scottish Tartan Society. the actual manufacture of the tartan.
With zeal rarely seen, the Committee was successful in seeing it through to a happy
conclusion, and in June 1998. Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, formally presented the RCMP
with accreditation for the tartan.

        Like all symbols associated with the RCMP, the tartan speaks to the history and
heritage of the force and no one describes it better than Inspector Graham Muir, an ardent
supporter of the tartan for many years. "The tartan colours," writes Inspector Muir, �are as
rich and varied as the heritage they represent." He continues:

        They are true to RCMP tradition as they are derived from the colours of the Force's
uniform and badge. The colours weave into a perfectly balanced tartan design; the overall
effect is pleasingly subtle, reflecting a harmonious interplay of colours that provide an
excellent complement to the Force's world-renowned Red Serge tunic.

        Let us review these colours and their symbolic significance because they not only tell
us about the tartan, but also about Mounted Police history and our role as Canada's national
police service since the 1870�s. The tartan is the perfect embodiment of what symbols should
tell us, what they should represent, the heritage and traditions of the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police.

        The background or theme colour is dark blue, the colour of the riding breeches worn by
members of the Mounted Police: it is also reminiscent of the shabrack or saddle blanket found
on the horses of the RCMP Musical Ride. The dark hue of the blue lends a subtle character to
the tartan and is complementary to the red serge tunic. Scarlet red is the colour of the RCMP
tunic known the world over ar symbolic of Canada. The rich red recalls the early years of the
North-West Mounted Police when scarlet was worn �in the service of Her Majesty�, signifying
the presence of the monarchy throughout the British Empire. Yellow represents the cavalry
stripe of the RCMP's distinctive ceremonial uniform. but yellow also adorns the regular
working dress, on both hatband and trousers, of the men and women who serve Canadians every
day. The yellow colour is also found on the Crown and gilt letters of the RCMP badge. It is,
in many ways, as distinctive of the RCMP uniform as the red serge tunic itself.

        The remaining colours are equally representative. Sienna Brown suggests the bison,
the centre-piece of the RCMP badge; it also echoes Canada's expansive western plains, the
reason for the formation of the NWMP in the 1870�s. Forest green represents the maple leaves
that surround the scroll and bison on the badge, the same maple leafs that are found on the
RCMP Ensign. What is more distinctively Canadian than the maple leaf! The fine white accent
of the tartan is reminiscent of the lanyard worn as an accoutrement to the RCMP ceremonial
uniform, but it also provides a link to Canada's First national people -- the colour white has
a special spiritual significance symbolizing strength and endurance. Finally, there is sky
blue. The bison on the RCMP badge is set against this colour, which today is easily associated
with the blue worn by those who serve with the United Nations. It thus has special
significance for the RCMP because of its new-found role in international peacekeeping and
training.