Artifact Type: Embroidered Patch
Title: CN Police Embroidered Patch
Year: 1980s
Designer: Uncredited
Allan R Fleming (Logo)
Studio: Uncredited
Client: Canadian National Railways
Size: 451mm X 102mm
Condition: Very Good
Collection: Canada Modern Archive
An embroidered shoulder patch for the Canadian National Railway Police (CN Police), dating from approximately the 1980s. Although the patch design is unattributed, it incorporates the familiar CN symbol designed by Allan Fleming and introduced in 1960, extending one of Canada’s most recognizable corporate identities into the railway’s policing service.
Established in 1923 as the Canadian National Investigation Department, the force was renamed CN Police in 1971. Its officers were responsible for protecting railway property, maintaining security and conducting investigations across CN’s extensive network.
A variation of this patch design remained in use for approximately four decades. Later versions retained the same essential identity but featured a yellow border extending to the outer edge, illustrating how a familiar symbol and insignia could be adapted over time while maintaining a consistent visual presence.
