Badge of The Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces

Blazon

A roundel per pale Azure and Vert charged with a lyre Or surmounting two drum major’s maces in saltire, a base enarched and indented of four notches Argent, all within the Miscellaneous Units badge frame;

Symbolism

Blue, green and white are the municipal colours of Ottawa and Gatineau, the two main cities of the National Capital Region where the unit is located. The lyre is taken from the badge of the Music Branch of the Canadian Armed Forces. The drum major’s mace is a distinctive feature of marching bands, used to direct and keep time for the musicians. It represents this type of ensemble, composed of brass, woodwind and percussion instruments. The curved division line represents the bridge of a classical stringed instrument (which has four strings, usually set in notches in the bridge) and therefore the string ensembles that are part of the unit. The name of this item in the two official languages reflects different aspects of the unit’s mandate. The English term, “bridge,” conveys the idea that music is a bridge between the military and the wider public across Canada. The French term, chevalet, suggests the idea of support, and therefore the unit’s role in supporting the public mission of the Forces.