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Blazon

annulet on which a shepherd’s crook erect or, and over all within the annulet a lozenge argent charged with an anchor azure.
(Glossary of Heraldic Terms)

Significance

This ship named in honour of Cap de la Madeleine, a seigniory of the time of Champlain, was founded by the Jesuits as a mission for the Indigenous peoples. The shepherd’s crook is for the pastoral work of the mission and the gold annulet or ring, for the shelter and safety which was provided. The tomahawk represents the Indigenous peoples. The woodsman’s axe refers to the pulp and paper and lumbering industries of the present day, of which Cap de la Madeleine is a center. The white lozenge refers to the local legend of the bridge of ice said to have been miraculously formed so that stone for the building of a shrine could be obtained from the other side of the St. Lawrence River. The anchor is a symbol of hope and refuge, and is also a reference to the Navy.

Remarks

HMCS Cap de la Madeleine was commissioned in September 1944, and wore pennant K663 until she was decommissioned in November 1945. She was reactivated alter her conversion to a Prestonian class ocean escort in December 1954, and wore pennant 317 until finally paid off in May 1965.

Colours

Gold and blue.

Battle Honours

Atlantic, 1945.

References

Badges Of The Canadian Navy by Arbuckle, J. Graeme. Halifax: Nimbus Publishing, 1987.