Examination Unit (1941–1945) National Historic Event

Ottawa, Ontario
The Examination Unit at the National Research Council Annex building on Montréal Road in Ottawa in 1942 © Communications Security Establishment | Centre de la sécurité des télécommunications
The Examination Unit in 1942
© Communications Security Establishment | Centre de la sécurité des télécommunications
The Examination Unit at the National Research Council Annex building on Montréal Road in Ottawa in 1942 © Communications Security Establishment | Centre de la sécurité des télécommunicationsExamination Unit (Intelligence), Dept. of External Affairs, posed in front of the National Research Council Annex, 345 Laurier Avenue East, during World War II © Library and Archives Canada | Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / PA-178055
Address : Ottawa, Ontario

Recognition Statute: Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date: 2021-04-28
Dates:
  • 1941 to 1945 (Significant)

Other Name(s):
  • Examination Unit (1941-1945)  (Designation Name)
Research Report Number: 2020-10

Importance: The first in Canada and the only civilian cryptographic bureau active during the Second World War

Plaque(s)


Existing plaque:  335 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa, Ontario

The Examination Unit was Canada’s secret civilian cryptographic bureau during the Second World War. It reported to the Department of External Affairs from within the National Research Council (NRC). Women made up roughly 40 per cent of the staff. Located next to the home of Prime Minister Mackenzie King between March 1942 and July 1945, it provided Canadian officials with foreign intelligence and contributed to the Allied decryption of French, German, and Japanese messages. This helped forge lasting intelligence partnerships and paved the way for the NRC Communications Branch (1946) and the Communications Security Establishment (1975).