Recently, the Director General of the Canadian Police College (CPC), Assistant Commissioner Cal Corley, had an opportunity to speak with retired RCMP Sergeant John C. Smith. Mr. Smith was visiting the CPC to donate his commemorative plaque, which he received for designing the CPC’s first logo back in 1976 at the onset of the formation of the CPC.

Mr. Smith presents his commemorative plaque to Assistant Commissioner Cal Corley.

Mr. Smith designed the logo as part of an in-house design competition where staff members of the CPC were permitted to submit designs that they felt best represented the nascent college that would cater to police services in Canada and Internationally. Mr. Smith selected a set of three triangles so that the logo would be a strong geometric shape and could also be read bilingually. The plaque currently resides in the CPC’s showcase and represents an important part of the CPC’s early history.

“Mr. Smith’s donation was a nice surprise and most timely since it comes right when we are celebrating the College's 35th,” said A/Commr. Cal Corley. “John’s plaque has been prominently placed on display — it represents an important touchstone in the history of the CPC.”

As of 2011, the CPC logo and CPC website were completely redesigned in order to refresh the CPC’s brand image. The new CPC logo features a maple leaf, to represent the Canadian heritage of the college; a police badge to represent the policing community that serves the CPC and a three page book showcases the strong role in education that the CPC plays with the Federal, provincial and municipal levels of policing.