Self-Guiding Tour

#28   Badges and Memorabilia

Throughout the years the Winnipeg fire department has gone through many different patch designs. Originally, they had a rectangle-shaped badge with the city crest in the center. In the 1970’s, they moved to a design that’s similar to current day transit patches. Both of these patches had either a yellow or white border to differentiate regular firefighters from officers. In the 1980’s, around the time of the department’s centennial celebration, a new patch was designed which is still used today. They feature the fire department colour scheme with red, yellow, and black, as well as the new city crest.

Firefighters have also been issued “cap badges” and pins. Originally the cap badges had the firefighter’s reg number in the center and were worn on the firefighter’s cap. Today they are worn on the firefighter’s shirt during formal events. Officers are also issued short collar pins with bugles on them – historically, speaking horn/ trumpet was used at fire scenes to direct firefighters before the invention of two-way radios. The number of bugles on the pin dictates rank, with one bugle for a lieutenant and five for the chief.

Your Donations Keep Our Engines Running

The Winnipeg Firefighters Museum aims to entertain and educate our visitors about the current processes and historical stories of the fire service. The museum relies on your donations in order to continue with the mission of the Winnipeg Firefighters Historical Society. Please follow the link below to make a secure, charitable donation.

© 2019 The Firefighters Historical Society of Winnipeg | Reproduction of the site in part or in whole prohibited unless with written permission. All rights reserved.