The Examination Unit contributed to the Allied war effort and the development of Canada’s foreign intelligence capacity
August 3, 2021 Ottawa, Ontario Parks Canada Agency
Among Canada’s many contributions during the Second World War, the Examination Unit (XU) was a civilian cryptographic bureau that contributed to Allied efforts to break the codes and ciphers used in communications signals between 1941 to 1945.
Today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, announced the designation of the Examination Unit as a national historic event under the National Program of Historical Commemoration, on the recommendation of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
When the Second World War began, Canada had no civilian cryptographic bureau dedicated to decrypting communications signals. With no way of reading the messages that Canadian military and censorship officials were intercepting, the government had little choice but to depend on Britain for foreign intelligence. The founding of the XU in 1941 represented a step by the Canadian government to simultaneously gain more independence and become a valued intelligence partner.
The XU reported to the Department of External Affairs (now Global Affairs Canada) but operated under the administration of the National Research Council of Canada, as a way to hide its budget and keep its work a secret. Reports generated by the XU during the war contributed to an understanding by Canadian government officials and ministers of the value of foreign intelligence for Canadian decision-making.
National historic designations reflect the rich and varied heritage of our country and provide an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about our diverse history. The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, recognizes significant persons, places, and events that have shaped our country as one way of helping Canadians connect with their past. By sharing these stories with Canadians, we hope to foster understanding and reflection on the diverse histories, cultures, legacies, and realities of Canada’s past and present.
The designation process under Parks Canada’s National Program of Historical Commemoration is largely driven by public nominations. To date, more than 2,200 designations have been made nationwide. To nominate a person, place or historical event in your community, please visit the Parks Canada website for more information: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/culture/clmhc-hsmbc/ncp-pcn/application.
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