HMCS OTTAWA

BLAZON:
Gules, a bend wavy argent charged with two cotises wavy azure, over all a beaver, the sinister forepaw resting on a log of silver birch proper.

SIGNIFICANCE:
This design is derived form the unofficial wartime badge of the first HMCS OTTAWA, (H-60): a beaver on a log of wood. The white and blue wavy "bend" represents the Ottawa river upon which the city grew. The red field is intended to refer to the Native peoples - the Outaouasis or Ottawas - who travelled this river and region and from whom its name was derived.

SHIP'S COLOURS:
White and red. Normally, according to the rules of heraldry, the two principal colours in the badge - gold and red - would be the ship's colours, but given the ship's namesake is the capital of the nation, the official colours of Canada - white and red - have been used in reference to this honour.

Battle Honours:
ATLANTIC 1939-1945
NORMANDY 1944
ENGLISH CHANNEL 1944
BISCAY 1944