Military Unit Mottos: Canada (Land Forces)

  • Canadian Forces Land Force Command: Vigilamus Pro Te (Latin, "We Stand On Guard For Thee"; taken from a stanza in O Canada)

Bases and stations

Note on abbreviations:

CFB - Canadian Forces Base
CFS - Canadian Forces Station
CATC - Canadian Army Training Centre

Bases

  • CFB Edmonton: To The North
  • CFB Kingston: Honos Habet Onus (Latin, "Honour Carries a Burden")
  • CFB Petawawa: Endazhe Kinamandowa Chimaganishak (Algonquian, "Training Ground of the Warriors")
  • CFB Shilo: Ad Omnia Paratus
  • CFB Suffield: Eximius Ordo
  • CFB Valcartier: Semper Fidelis (Latin, "Always Faithful")
  • CFB Wainwright: Servitum (Latin, "Service")

Schools and Training Centres

  • The Canadian Parachute Centre: Ex Coelis (Latin, "Out of the Clouds")
  • Combat Training Centre Gagetown:
    • Tactics School: Tactica (Latin, "Tactics")
  • Land Force Atlantic Area Training Centre Gagetown: Sustentans Militem Atlanticum (Latin, "Supporting The Atlantic Soldier")
  • Land Force Central Area Training Centre Meaford: Excelsior
  • Land Force Quebec Area Training Centre Valcartier: Apprendre Instruire Exceller (French, ''To Learn, To Study, To Excel")
  • Land Force Western Area Training Centre Wainwright: Excellentia (Latin, "Excellence")

Land Force Areas, Brigade Groups, and Other Formations

Areas

  • Land Force Atlantic Area: Cives Ac Praesertim Milites (Latin, "Citizens and Especially Soldiers")1
  • Land Force Central Area: Pax et Bello Paratus (Latin, "Prepared in Peace and War")2
  • Land Force Quebec Area: Honneur et Perseverence (French, "Honour and Perseverance")
  • Land Force Western Area: Pace Paratus Ad Arma

Brigade Groups

  • 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group: Semper Vigilans (Latin, "Ever on Guard")
  • 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group: Audacia et Fortitudo (Latin, "Audacity and Fortitude")
  • 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group: Allons-y (French, "Let's Go There")
  • 31 Canadian Brigade Group: Pro Aris Et Focis (Latin, "For Our Altars and Our Hearths")
  • 32 Canadian Brigade Group: Steadfast
  • 33 Canadian Brigade Group: Fortes Soli, Fortiores Una (Latin, "Strong Alone, Stronger Together")
  • 34 Canadian Brigade Group: Combatre, Vaincre ou Mourir (French, "Fight, Vanquish or Die")
  • 35 Canadian Brigade Group: Honneur et Courage (French, "Honour and Courage")
  • 36 Canadian Brigade Group: Atlanticus Fortis (Latin, "The Atlantic Strong")
  • 37 Canadian Brigade Group: Uniti Valentiores (Latin, "United, We Are Stronger")
  • 38 Canadian Birgade Group: Progredere Ne Regredere (Latin, "Advance, do not retreat")
  • 39 Canadian Brigade Group: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin, "Splendour Without Diminishment"; the motto of British Columbia)
  • 41 Canadian Brigade Group: Fortune Favours the Bold

Army Regiments and Battalions

Artillery Regiments

Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery:

  • Ubique (Latin, "Everywhere")
  • Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt (Latin, "Where Right and Glory Lead")

Armour Regiments

  • The Royal Canadian Dragoons: Audax et Celer (Latin: "Bold and Swift")3
  • Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians): Perseverance
  • 12e Régiment blindé du Canada: Adsum (Latin, "I Am There")
  • The Governor General's Horse Guards:
    • Nulli Secundus (Latin, "Second To None")
    • Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense (French, "Shame To Him Who Thinks Evil Of It"; taken from the motto of the Order of the Garter)
  • 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's): Regi Patriaeque Fidelis (Latin, "Loyal/faithful to King and Country")
  • The Ontario Regiment (RCAC): Fidelis et Paratus (Latin, "Faithful and Prepared")
  • The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC): none current
  • Sherbrooke Hussars: In Hoc Signo Stabilitas (Latin, "In This Sign, Stability")
  • 1st Hussars: Hodie Non Cras (Scottish Gaelic, "Today Not Tomorrow")
  • The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC): Parva Sub Ingenti (Latin, "The Small Under The Protection of the Great"; taken from the motto of the province of Prince Edward Island)
  • The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal): Non Nobis Sed Patriae (Latin, "Not for Ourselves, but for Our Country")
  • The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) (RCAC): Faugh a Ballagh (Gaelic, "Clear the Way")
  • The South Alberta Light Horse: Semper Alacer (Latin, "Always Alert" or "Always Ready")
  • The Saskatchewan Dragoons: Ésprit d'initiative (French, "The Spirit of Initiative")
  • The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC): Onward (taken from the motto of the City of Calgary)
  • The British Columbia Dragoons: Quansem Ilep (Chinook, "To Strive Ahead")
  • The Fort Garry Horse: Facta Non Verba (Latin, "Deeds, Not Words")
  • Le Régiment de Hull (RCAC): On Ne Passe Pas (French, "You Shall Not Pass")
  • The Windsor Regiment (RCAC): Semper Paratus (Latin,"Always Prepared")

Infantry Regiments

  • The Royal Canadian Regiment: Pro Patria (Latin, "For Country"); the Regiment has also long had an unofficial motto "Never pass a fault"
  • Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry: none
  • Royal 22e Régiment: Je Me Souviens (French, "I Remember"; taken from the motto of the province of Québec)
  • Governor General's Foot Guards: Civitas et Princeps Cura Nostra (Latin, "Our Care is Queen and Country")
  • The Canadian Grenadier Guards: Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense (French, "Shame To Him Who Thinks Evil Of It"; taken from the motto of the Order of the Garter)
  • The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada: In Pace Paratus (Latin, "In Peace, Prepared")
  • The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada: Nemo Me Impune Lacessit (Latin, "No One Provokes Me With Impunity"; from the motto of Scotland)
  • Les Voltigeurs de Québec: Force A Superbe, Mercy A Foible (French, "Violence To The Strong, Mercy To The Weak")
  • The Royal Regiment of Canada:
    • Ready, Aye, Ready
    • Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense (French, "Shame To Him Who Thinks Evil Of It"; taken from the motto of the Order of the Garter)
    • Nec Aspera Terrant (Latin, "Difficulties Do Not Daunt")
  • The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment): Semper Paratus (Latin, "Always Ready")
  • The Princess of Wales' Own Regiment: Nunquam Cede (Latin, "Never Yield")
  • The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment: Paratus (Latin, "Ready")
  • The Lincoln and Welland Regiment: Non Nobis Sed Patriae (Latin, "Not Ourselves But For Our Country")
  • The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada: Defence, Not Defiance
  • The Grey and Simcoe Foresters: Tenacious and Versatile
  • The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment): Air Son Ar Duthchais (Scottish Gaelic, "For Our Heritage")
  • The Brockville Rifles: Semper Paratus (Latin, "Always Ready")
  • The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders:
    • to 1941: Foy Pour Devoir (Old French, "Faithful to Duty")
    • since 1941: Dileas Gu Bas (Scottish Gaelic, "Faithful Unto Death")
  • Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent: J'y Suis En Garde (French, "I Am On Guard")
  • Le Régiment de la Chaudière: Aere Perennius (Latin, "Truer Than Steel")
  • Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal: Nunquam Retrorsum (Latin, "Never Retreat")
  • The Princess Louise Fusiliers: Fideliter (Latin, "Faithfully")
  • The Royal New Brunswick Regiment: Spem Reduxit (Latin, "Hope Restored"; taken from the motto of the province of New Brunswick)
  • The West Nova Scotia Regiment: Semper Fidelis (Latin, "Always Faithful")
  • The Nova Scotia Highlanders: Siol Na Fear Fearail (Scottish Gaelic, "Breed of Manly Men")
  • Le Régiment de Maisonneuve: Bon Coeur et Bon Bras (French, "Good Heart and Strong Arm")
  • The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa: Advance
  • The Royal Winnipeg Rifles: Hosti Acie Nominati (Latin, "Named By The Enemy in Battle")
  • The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment: Semper Paratus (Latin, "Always Ready")
  • 48th Highlanders of Canada: Dileas Gu Brath (Scottish Gaelic, "Faithful Forever")
  • Le Régiment du Saguenay: Dieu et Patrie (French, "God and Country")
  • The Algonquin Regiment: Ne-Kah-Ne-Tah (Algonquian, "We Lead, Others Follow")
  • The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's): Albainn Gu Brath (Scottish Gaelic, "Scotland Forever")
  • The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment: Inter Pericula Intrepidi (Latin, "Fearless In the Face of Danger")
  • North Saskatchewan Regiment: Cede Nullis (Latin, "Yield to None")
  • The Royal Regina Rifles: Celer et Audax (Latin, "Swift and Bold")
  • The Rocky Mountain Rangers: Kloshe Nanitch (Chinook, "Keep a Good Lookout" or "Ever Watch")
  • The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry): Fears No Foe
  • The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada: Ullamh (Scottish Gaelic, "Ready")
  • The Royal Westminster Regiment: Pro Rege et Patria (Latin, "For King and Country")
  • The Calgary Highlanders: Airaghardt (Scottish Gaelic: "Onward"; taken from the motto of the City of Calgary)
  • Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke: Droit au But (French, "To the Point")
  • The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada: Caber Feidh gu Brath (Scottish Gaelic, "The Stags Horns Forever")
  • The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's): Deas Gu Cath (Scottish Gaelic, "Ready for the Fray")
  • The Royal Montreal Regiment: Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense (French, "Shame To Him Who Thinks Evil Of It"; taken from the motto of the Order of the Garter)
  • The Irish Regiment of Canada: Fior Go Bas (Irish, "Faithful unto Death")
  • The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own): Carry On
  • The Royal Newfoundland Regiment: Better Than the Best

Communication Squadrons

  • 724 Communication Squadron:
  • 731 Communication Squadron: Sustenans Vinculum (Latin)4
  • 742 Communication Squadron: Perseveramus (Latin)5
  • 764 Communication Squadron: Excellentius

Support Units

Area Support Units (ASU)

  • 1 Area Support Group Edmonton: We Enable Success6
  • Area Support Unit Chilliwack: Ad Mare Usque Mons (Latin)
  • Area Support Unit Northern Ontario: Regionem Boream Sustinentes (Latin, "Upholding The Northern Region")

Service Battalions

  • 1 Service Battalion: Officium Super Omnia (Latin, "Duty Above All")
  • 2 Service Battalion: Nulli Secundus (Latin, "Second To None")
  • 11 (Victoria) Service Battalion: Silhuwa
  • 12 (Vancouver) Service Battalion: Duty Above All7
  • 14 (Calgary) Service Battalion:
  • 15 (Edmonton) Service Battalion: Militare Cum Fiducia
  • 16 (Saskatchewan) Service Battalion: Flexible and Enduring8
  • 17 (Winnipeg) Service Battalion: United in Effort9
  • 18 (Thunder Bay) Service Battalion: Media Nox Meridies Noster10 (Latin, "Midnight [is] Our Midday")
  • 21 (Windsor) Service Battalion: Duty Above All
  • 22 (London) Service Battalion: Labore et Perseverantia (Latin, "Through Labour and Perseverance"; taken from the motto of the city of London, Ontario)
  • 23 (Hamilton) Service Battalion: Semper Industrius (Latin, "Always Industrious")11
  • 25 (Toronto) Service Battalion: Superbe Militare
  • 26 (North Bay) Service Battalion: Unitate Fortior
  • 28 (Ottawa) Service Battalion
  • 31 (Saint John) Service Battalion: Nulli Secundus (Latin, "Second to None")
  • 32 (Moncton) Service Battalion
  • 33 (Halifax) Service Battalion: Peritia Meremur
  • 35 (Sydney) Service Battalion: Fritheilidh Sinn (Scottish Gaelic, "We Serve")12
  • 36 (Newfoundland) Service Battalion: Nulli Secundus (Latin, "Second to None")
  • 51 (Montréal) Service Battalion: Devoir Avant Tout (French, "Duty Before All")
  • 55 (Québec) Service Battalion

Other units

  • Land Force Trials and Evaluations Unit: De Armis Veritas (Latin, "Truth About Arms")

Disbanded/Decommissioned/Inactive Units

Commands

  • Force Mobile Command: Mobile

Bases

  • CFB Calgary: Usque Ad Montes (Latin, "Unto The Mountains")
  • Camp Wainwright: We Serve

Corps

  • Canadian Infantry Corps: Acer (Latin, "The Maple Tree"; also can mean "Sharp", "Vigilant", "Fierce", or "Relentless")
  • Canadian Intelligence Corps: Action From Knowledge
  • Canadian Provost Corps: Discipline Through Example
  • Corps of Guides: Virtute et Labore (Latin, "By Virtue and Labour"?)
  • Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers: Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense (French, "Shame to Him Who Thinks Evil of It"; from the motto of the Order of the Garter)
  • Royal Canadian Army Chaplain Corps: In Hoc Signo Vinces (Latin, "In This Sign Conquer")
  • Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps: In arduis fidelis (Latin, "Faithful through Adversity")13
  • Royal Canadian Army Pay Corps: Honi Siot Qui Mal Y Pense (French, "Shame to Him Who Thinks Evil of It"; from the motto of the Order of the Garter)
  • Royal Canadian Army Service Corps: Nil Sine Labore (Latin, "Nothing Without Work")
  • Royal Canadian Corps of Signals: Velox Versutus Vigilans (Latin, "Swift, Skilled, Alert")
  • Royal Canadian Dental Corps: Santitas in Ore (Latin, "Oral Health")
  • Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers: Arte Et Marte (Latin, "By Skill and By Fighting")
  • Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps: Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense (French, "Shame to Him Who Thinks Evil of It"; from the motto of the Order of the Garter)
  • Royal Canadian Postal Corps: Servire Armatis (Latin, "Serve the Soldier")

Formations

  • 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group: (?)
  • Special Service Force: Osons (French, "Let us dare")

Militia Areas and Districts

  • Atlantic Militia Area:
  • Secteur de l'est:
  • Prairie Militia Area: Pax Bellum Parando (Latin, "Peace by Preparing for War")
  • Pacific Militia Area:

Army Regiments

Armoured Regiments

  • 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment: Armatos Fundit (Latin, "Carrying Armed Men")
  • 2nd/10th Dragoons: Sagittari
  • 7th/XI Hussars: Steady
  • 12th Manitoba Dragoons: Ubique honor et equis (Latin, "Everywhere honour and equality")
  • 14th Canadian Hussars: Free and Fearless
  • 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars: Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense (Latin, "Shamed be he who thinks evil of it", motto of the Order of the Garter)
  • 18th Canadian Light Horse: Amor patriae (Latin, "For love of country")
  • The Argyll Light Infantry (Tank): Nulli Secundus (Latin, "Second to None")
  • The Cape Breton Highlanders: Siol Na Fear Fearail (Gaelic, "Breed of Manly Men")
  • The Elgin Regiment (RCAC): Officium primum (Latin, "Duty First")
  • The Halifax Rifles (RCAC): Cede Nullis (Latin, "Yield To None")
  • King's Canadian Hussars: Vota vita mea (Latin, "My life is devoted")
  • The Manitoba Mounted Rifles: Ut irruant omnes (Latin, "Aggressive in attack")
  • The New Brunswick Regiment (Tank): Paratus pugnare pro patria (Latin, "Always prepared to fight for our country")
  • The Saskatchewan Mounted Rifles: Canada and Empire

Infantry Regiments

  • 6th Fusiliers: Nulla vestigia retrorsum (Latin, "No step backwards")
  • 18th Prescott Battalion of Infantry: Paratus et volens (Latin, "Ready and willing")
  • 43rd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force: Ullamh (Gaelic: "Ready
  • 55th Regiment, Megantic Light Infantry: Semper paratus (Latin, "Always ready")
  • 60th Missisquoi Battalion of Infantry: Watch the front, watch weel
  • 80th Nicolet Regiment: Pro aris et focis (Latin, "For our altars and our homes")
  • 84th Battalion, CEF: Rex Vocat
  • 109th Canadian Militia Regiment: Rex vocat (Latin, "The King calls")
  • The Bruce Regiment: Amor patriae (Latin, "For love of country")
  • The Canadian Airborne Regiment: Ex Coelis (Latin, "Out Of The Clouds")
  • The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (M.G.): Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense (Latin, "Shamed be he who thinks evil of it", motto of the Order of the Garter)
  • The Canadian Guards: A mari usque ad mare (Latin, "From sea even unto sea")
  • The Cumberland Highlanders: Cos Cheum Nach Gabh Tilleadh (Gaelic, "Our footsteps will not allow us to go backwards")
  • The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada: Pervias rectas (Latin, "Constantly alert")
  • The Edmonton Fusiliers: Deum Cole, Regem Serva (Latin: "Worship God, Preserve/Save the King")
  • The Irish Fusiliers of Canada (The Vancouver Regiment): Faugh-a-ballagh (Irish, "Clear the way")
  • The Kent Regiment: Usque Ad Aras (Latin, "Even to the (sacrificial) Altar")14
  • The Lambton Regiment: Paratus et fidelis (Latin: "Ready and faithful")
  • The Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment:
    • Fac et spera (Latin, "Do and hope")
    • Ich dien (German, "I serve"; motto of the Prince of Wales)
    • Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin, "No one provokes me with impunity"; motto of the Order of the Thistle)
  • The Manitoba Rangers: Semper paratus (Latin, "Always ready")
  • The Middlesex and Huron Regiment: ''Defence not defiance"
  • The Midland Regiment: Semper Paratus (Latin, "Always Prepared")
  • The Norfolk Regiment of Canada: Pro patria (Latin, "For country")
  • The North Nova Scotia Highlanders: Cos Cheum Nach Gabh Tilleadh (Gaelic, "Our footsteps will not allow us to go backwards")
  • The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment: Pro Jure Constans (Latin, "Faithful For The Right")
  • The Perth Regiment: Audaces Et Cauti (Latin, "Bold And Wary")
  • The Pictou Highlanders: Cuidich'n Righ (Gaelic, "Protect the King")
  • The Prince of Wales Rangers (Peterborough Regiment): Quis separabit? (Latin, "Who shall separate?" Motto of the Order of St. Patrick)
  • Le Régiment de Joliette: Quem timebo (Latin, "Whom shall I fear")
  • Le Régiment de Saint-Hyacinthe: Honneur et devoir (French, "Honour and duty")
  • Le Régiment de Québec (Mitrailleuses): Maintiens le droict (Old French, "Maintain the right")
  • The Royal Rifles of Canada: Volens et valens (Latin, "Willing and strong")
  • The Sherbrooke Regiment (RCAC): In hoc signo vinces (Latin, "In this sign conquer")
  • The Simcoe Foresters: Spectemur agendo (Latin, "Let us be known by our deeds")
  • The Saint John Fusiliers: Semper paratus (Latin, "Always ready")
  • The Victoria and Haliburton Regiment: ''Where duty leads"
  • Victoria Rifles of Canada: Pro Aris Et Focis (Latin, "For The Altars and Hearths")
  • The Wellington Regiment: Virtutis fortuna comes (Latin, "Fortune is the companion of bravery")
  • The Winnipeg Grenadiers: Adsum (Latin, "I am present")
  • The York Regiment: Fidelis patrice (Latin, "Faithful to the fatherland")

Canadian Expeditionary Force (1914-1918)

  • 20th Battalion (1st Central Ontario Regiment), CEF: Celer et Fortis
  • 23rd Battalion, CEF: Concordia Salus (French, "Well-being through harmony")
  • 38th (Ottawa) Battalion, CEF: Advance
  • 57th (Canadien-Français) Battalion, CEF: Fais ce que dois (French, "Do what you must")
  • 59th Battalion, CEF: Foy pour devoir (Old French, "Faithful to duty")
  • 67th Battalion, CEF: Sabaid (Scottish Gaelic, "Fight")
  • 69th Battalion CEF: Je me souviens (French, "I Remember")
  • 80th Battalion, CEF: Paratus (Latin, Prepared")
  • 95th Battalion, CEF: Nunquam Sermimus
  • 103rd Battalion, CEF: Res Non Verra(?)
  • 104th Battalion, CEF: Pro Impera
  • 136th (Durham) Battalion, CEF: Semper Paratus (Latin, "Always Prepared")
  • 140th (St. John's Tigers) Battalion, CEF: Pro Impera
  • 143rd (B.C. Bantams) Battalion, CEF: Multum In Parvo
  • 163rd (Canadien-Français) Battalion, CEF: Qui s'y frotte, s'y pique (French, roughly "Who opposes it gets hurt"; literally "Who rubs it gets stung"
  • 178th (Canadien-Français) Battalion, CEF: Vouloir pouvoir
  • 189th (Canadien-Français) Battalion, CEF: J'y suis en garde (French, "I am on guard")
  • 206th (Canadien-Francais) Battalion, CEF: Bon coeur et bon bras (French, "A Good Heart and a Good Arm")
  • 226th Battalion, CEF: Men of the North
  • 248th Battalion, CEF: Le bon vouloir servir le Roi

Other units

  • The Garrison Battalion: Steady
  • Pacific Coast Militia Rangers: Vigilans (Latin, "Alert")

See also

  • Motto
  • List of Military Unit Mottoes by Country
  • Military Unit Mottos: Canada
  • Military Unit Mottos: Canada (Air Forces)
  • Military Unit Mottos: Canada (Cadet Services)
  • Military Unit Mottos: Canada (Joint Service Forces)
  • Military Unit Mottos: Canada (Naval Forces)