Royal Military Colleges of Canada

A dexter arm embowed vambraced and gauntleted holding a sprig of three maple leaves and issuant from a torse, all ensigned by the Royal Crown and set upon a scroll inscribed TRUTH • DUTY • VALOUR;

The arm in armour holding three maple leaves has been used as the emblem of Canada’s military colleges since the 19th century. It was granted as the crest of the Royal Military College of Canada (Kingston, Ontario) in 1920, and, with slightly different colouring, as the crests of Royal Roads Military College (Victoria, British Columbia) in 1989 and of the Royal Military College Saint-Jean (Quebec) in 1993. The arm alludes to the colleges’ mandate as military academies and universities for officer cadets in the Canadian Armed Forces, while the maple leaves embody their Canadian identity. The Royal Crown indicates the royal designation of the colleges. The three words constitute the motto of Canada’s military colleges, which can be displayed in one or the other official language.

A dexter arm embowed vambraced and gauntleted holding a sprig of three maple leaves and issuant from a torse, all ensigned by the Royal Crown and set upon a scroll inscribed VÉRITÉ • DEVOIR • VAILLANCE;

The symbolism of this emblem is found in other element(s) of this record.