Navy League of Canada    

Navy League of Canada Ligue navale du Canada
Badge of the Navy League of Canada
Cadet League Details
Active	1895 - present
Element	Royal Canadian Sea Cadets
Location	HQ Ottawa Ontario
Motto	(Traditionally) Keep Watch (on website) Oceans of opportunity
Patrons & Honorary Appointments
Patron	Her Majesty the Queen of Canada
Honorary Chairperson	Rear-Admiral, the Honourable Fred Mifflin, PC, CD, (Retired)
National President	Vice Admiral Gary Garnett, CMM, CD, BA, (Ret'd)
Official Website

The Navy League of Canada, (or known in French as La Ligue navale du Canada) was founded in 1895 as a branch of the Navy League of Great Britain. It's first mandate was to raise the awareness amongst Canadians of the need for the maritime defence of the Nation. The League was incorporated in 1918. Today the Navy League is a "not-for profit" organization that is the non-governmental partner of the Canadian Forces and Department of National Defence in support of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets program. Additionally, the Navy League is the sole sponsor of the Navy League Cadet programme for boys and girls between the ages of nine to twelve.

History

The latter half of the nineteenth century saw rapid expansion and development of the British Empire and, with it, the dependence on ocean shipping routes for its trade and defence. At the same time the German Empire was becoming increasingly aggressive, and competing step by step with Britain. Concern as to the adequacy of the Royal Navy of that day to defend the widely separated components of the Empire and their essential shipping gave rise to the formation in Britain in 1895 of a society with the primary aim of ensuring an adequate naval defence. This was the Navy League, organized with local branches in towns and cities and drawing its support from people of all walks of life, but interested in the problem of ocean trade and naval defence. The movement expanded rapidly and before the end of that year branches had established themselves abroad, including one in Toronto whose warrant, dated 16 December 1895, now hangs in the National Office in Ottawa.

From its earliest days, the Navy League has been an active organization. In October 1895 the group in Toronto in the course of forming the branch there, had already prepared a submission to the Canadian government on the subject of maritime defence and the need for a Naval Reserve training program. Continued efforts in support of improved naval defence, either as an imperial or national effort, helped the government when it was formulating Canada's naval policy and establishing the Canadian Naval Service, forerunner of the Canadian Navy, in 1910. In these early years, the branches in Canada supported informally a youth training programme aimed at encouraging young men towards a seafaring career, and providing basic training in citizenship and seamanship.

The First World War placed heavy commitments on the Navy League with its activities expanding into recruiting of Naval and Merchant Navy personnel, operation of hostels for seafaring personnel, provision of welfare services to the dependents of seamen and, in the final stages, the rehabilitation of Naval Veterans.

In the years following The First World War, the Navy League took particular interest in seeking continued support for a Canadian flag, the Merchant Marine and maintained shore hostel facilities for the benefit of seafaring personnel. The training of boys was formalized under the name Boys' Naval Brigades across the country; this became the main raison d'être for many local Branches during the Depression. The establishment of the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1923 was much assisted by the enrolment of graduates of this scheme; a parallel apprenticeship programme was set up with Canadian shipping companies to enrol ex-cadets in the Merchant Marine. The name Boys' Naval Brigade was changed at about this time to the Navy League Sea Cadets to permit infusion of funds from the Department of the Militia.

With the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the Navy League was once more involved in War Services activities. This included the operation of 24 hostels in various port areas, such as the Sea Gull Cub in Halifax, the provision of amenities and special clothing supplies for visiting seamen, as well as those of the RCN and Canadian Merchant Navy. The Navy League came to consider itself "the nursery of Seamen" for the RCN. The Navy League also assisted in the establishment in Ottawa of HMCS BYTOWN Wardroom.

With the end of the Second World War and the closing out of its War Services operations, the Navy League was again able to turn its attention to its primary objectives; continued support of youth training and promoting a knowledge of maritime affairs. The minimum age limit of the Sea Cadets having been set at 14 years, there was felt to be a need for an organization to cater to interested boys under that limit. Thus in 1948, the Navy League established The Navy League Cadet Corps for younger boys. This development was followed in 1950 by the establishment of the Navy League Wrenette Corps for young ladies. Wrenettes have since become integrated in most cases with Sea Cadet and Navy League Cadet Corps.

Badges of the Navy League of Canada

The first badge of the Navy League was the same as that of the Navy League of the United Kingdom, and the same still used by the Navy League of New Zealand. The badge was a circle, with and anchor in the centre with laurel leaves on each site. Over the anchor, one will read NAVY LEAGUE and under, on will read the motto of the league; KEEP WATCH. The badge is crowned with the Naval Crown.

By the 1970s, the badge was changed. It now had two different versions, for both official languages of Canada (English and French). The badge was blue, with a white anchor in the centre. On each side of the anchor, one would find the abbreviation letters of the league (either N and L in English or L and N in French). The badge is crowned with the naval crown.

Early in the 21st Century, the League created a "corparate" logo for promotional items and the larger public. The logo was a stylized sailboat with the name of the organisation and a motto. Initially the motto was An New Wave of Adventure in English or Une mer d'aventure in French. It was later changed to Oceans of Opportunity in English of Une mer d'opportunité in French.

Between 2000 and 2008, a coloured version of the 1970's badge was used on some documents of the League.

In 2008, the League revised the badge to make it bilingual. The badge is a circle, with a golden anchor in the centre on a black (or navy blue) background. Over the anchor, on will read the league's foundation date: 1895. Under, a scroll written NAVY LEAGUE • LEAGUE NAVALE with a red stylized Canadian maple leaf between both English and French titles. The badge is crowned once again with the Naval Crown.

badge images

First badge of the Navy League

English version of the 1970s model ‎

French version of the 1970s model

2000s Navy League Logo

2000s coloured version of the 1970s model

New badge (lapel version)

Flags of the Navy League of Canada

As of 1970, the flag of the Navy League of Canada followed the same pattern of standard Canadian Forces ensigns: a white flag with a Canadian Flag at the canton with the Navy League badge (1970s version) in the fly. This flag was used by the NL, the NL Cadets and the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets.

Navy League flag

By 2000, the NL Cadets had had its own jack created. It is a white flag, with a red rectangle near the edge of the flag. In the flag's centre, on will find a circle with a tall ship (resembling the 'Molson Ex ship) on a foul anchor. On each side of the central image, one will find stlyized Canadian maple leaves. According to the NL's directive about flags, this is to be the NL Cadet's flag, however it seems to be used more and more as the flag of the whole organisation.

Navy League Cadet Jack

Before the 1970s, the Navy League flag was a Union Flag defaced with the badge of the NL at the time.

Former flags of the Navy League

The flag pictured above was the flag used by the Navy League thoughout the British Empire for a period of 20 years. Apparently it was first flown about 1900. It is not an exact representation of the flag, but the best that the creator of the image could have done. The following is an email conversation between CW user CTJJ.Stevenson and Mr. David Prothero of the United Kingdom, who works for the Flags of the World website ^[1]

• E-mail received on 22 December 2004.
  • “According to Rear Admiral Benson, General Secretary of the Navy League of Canada, the Navy League, which gave rise to the Sea Cadets, had used the Union Jack with the Navy League badge in the centre since about 1900.
  • He wrote to the British Admiralty in June 1918 applying for a Blue Ensign with the badge of the Navy League in the fly. The request was refused, but was to be reconsidered if the Navy League established a training ship of their own with a substantial number of boys in continuous training. Admiralty file [ADM 1/8529/187] in the National Archives at Kew, London.”

• E-mail receive on 26 December 2004.
  • I do not know when the Canadian Branch of the Navy League was formed. Admiral Benson’s actual words were, “Union Jack with Navy League badge in the centre has been used in this country and throughout the Empire for twenty years.”
  • I do not know what the badge was. On Navy League stationery at that time the letter head surmounted by a three-masted square-rigged sailing ship viewed from the port bow, surmounted by a cross overlying a rising sun, the whole surrounded by a scroll bearing the words “Sarcrifice: Service,” and below a scroll with the words “Navy League.” This was probably too complicated to have been used as a badge on a flag.
  • With the file that contained Rear-Admiral Benson’s letter, was a book of Regulations. On the cover was a circle surmounted by a naval crown. In the circle was a foul anchor with NAVY LEAGUE above, and KEEP WATCH below. At the sides of the anchor, to fill the two gaps between the N of Navy League and the K of KEEP WATCH, and the E of NAVY LEAGUE and the H of KEEP WATCH, was a short arc of decorative leaves. This could have been the badge used on the Union Jack. A cap badge was shown in the regulations. It was a foul anchor with S to the left and C to the right. No crown.

This design was rejected.

Critical Dates

1895 - First Canadian Branch formed
1910 - Canadian Navy established
1914 - Recruiting and Welfare Services, World War I
1917 - First Canadian Boy's Naval Brigade formed
1918 - Federal Charter approved establishing the Navy League of Canada
1923 - Boy's Naval Brigade name changed to Sea Cadet Corps
1939 - Welfare Services, World War II
1941 - Canadian Navy became partner in the Sea Cadet movement
1942 - King George VI agreed to be Admiral, Royal Canadian Sea Cadets
1943 - Scholarship program introduced
1948 - Navy League Cadet program established
1950 - Navy League Wrenette program established
1995 - The 100th Anniversary of the Navy League of Canada
1997- Last Navy League Wrenette Corps closed (NLWC Centennial) ^[2]

The Royal Canadian Sea Cadets

Royal Canadian Sea Cadets is a youth program for twelve to eighteen year olds, sponsored by the Canadian Forces supported by The Navy League of Canada and funded the Department of National Defence. The program has its origins in the Boy’s Naval Brigades. Navy League Sea Cadets became Royal Canadian Sea Cadets in 1941 when the Royal Canadian Navy (now the Canadian Forces) became a partner. There are about 245 Sea Cadet Corps with approximately 9,500 cadets located from coast to coast. There are no sea cadet corps in the Northern Territories.^[3]

Along with the Royal Canadian Army Cadets and Royal Canadian Air Cadets, the aim of the Sea Cadet program is to:

• Instill in youth the attributes of leadership and good citizenship;
• Promote physical fitness; and
• Stimulate the interest of youth in the sea, land and air activities of the Canadian Forces.^[4]

Navy League Cadet Corps

The Navy League Cadet Corps is a nautically themed youth program for youth nine to thirteen. The program aims to develop patriotism, good citizenship, a sense of duty, self-discipline, self-respect, and respect for others. While the program uses a naval environment (ranks, terminology, etc) there is no affiliation between Navy League Cadets and the Canadian Forces. The program is led entirely by civilian volunteers in each community. As of 2007, there are 107 Navy League Cadet Corps in Canada, with about 3200 cadets participating each year.^[3]

Navy League Cadet Officers

Navy League Cadet Officer Cap Badge

Maritime Affairs

The Navy League’s Maritime Affairs program aims to inform Canadians about issues effecting their use of the oceans. Beginning in 1895, the Navy League lobbied for the creation of a Naval Service for Canada. Having realized that goal in 1910, the Navy League continued to support the Navy and promote the welfare of sailors.

During both World Wars, and into the late 60’s, the Navy League operated numerous hostels and Sailor’s Homes, on both coasts. The Navy League Ditty Bag, (a small gift bag full of clothing, food and sundries) was a welcome comfort to sailors throughout this time.

Over the last decade, the Navy League has diversified to examine all aspects of ocean use. They have addressed issues of Ocean Management, Fisheries and Environmental protection, maritime trade and the preservation of Canada’s Arctic archipelago. In 2003, the group published Canada, An Incomplete Maritime Nation which outlines a broad range of public policy issues concerning the sustainable use of Canada’s Ocean territory.

Organization and Structure

The Navy League is a volunteer organization with 264 branches organized into 12 Divisions.^[5] Each Division President sits on a National Board of Directors. Members of the Navy League volunteer in their community to support two youth programs, Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and Navy League Cadets, or to build awareness of maritime issues.

While any person 'of good character' can be a member of the Navy League, volunteers working with cadets have to undergo a screening program which includes a police check known as Vulnerable Sector Screening. This program was put in place after Mount Cashel and other abuse cases raised awareness about potential risks to youth.

Also see

• International Sea Cadet Association
• Royal Canadian Sea Cadets

External links

Here is the information found on the national website of the Navy League of Canada - http://www.navyleague.ca

This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original article was at Navy League of Canada. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. Information concerning use of copyright protected material can be found at the CWwiki Copyright Policy Page.