In 1905 the Province of Alberta was formed out of the former Districts of Athabaska (in part) and Alberta. It was, therefore, named in Honour of the Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, daughter of Queen Victoria and wife of the Marquis of Lorne, who had been Governor-General of Canada from 1878-’83. Two years after the creation of this Province by the Dominion government the folowing arms were assigned by Royal Warrant on 30th May, 1907:

Azure, in front of a range of snow mountains Proper a range of hills Vert, in base a wheat field surmounted by a prairie both also proper, on a chief Argent a St. George’s Cross.

As with Manitoba, the Hudson’s Bay Company had for a long period execised vice-regal powers in, at least, a part of that area out of which the new Province was founded.

The arms of the Hudson Bay Company, incorporated by King Charles II in 1670 were:

Ar. a cross gu. between four beavers pass. Ppr. Crest – On a chapeau gu, turned up erm. a squirrel sejant ppr.. Supporters – Two bucks ppr. Motto – pro pelle cutem.[1]

and so, appropiately enough, one finds the principal charge of the arms borne by that Company placed in chief: the Cross of St. George. [2]

In 1980, on Alberta’s 75th anniversary, a crest and supporters were added to the shield to form the present coat of arms. The crest consists of a beaver, a symbol of the fur trade that led to the exploration and settlement of Canada, with the royal crown on its back. The supporters, a lion (or golden lion) on the left and a pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana - Antilocapridae) on the right, stand for Britain and Alberta respectively. Below them is a grassy mount dotted with wild roses. The motto at the base reads FORTIS ET LIBER, Latin for “strong and free.”

The Achievement of Alberta

Grant of Arms of Alberta, 1907

EDWARD R. & I.

Edward the Seventh by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India;

To Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely beloved Cousin and Councillor Henry Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshal and Our Hereditary Marshal of England, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight Grand Cross of Our Royal Victorian Order, Greeting: -

Whereas by virtue of and under the Authority of an Act of Parliament passed in the Thirty-fifth year of the Reign of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria entitled “The British North America Act, 1871,”it was (amongst other things) enacted that the Parliament of Canada might from time to time establish new Provinces in any territories for the time being part of the Dominion of Canada but not included in any Province thereof;

And Whereas by an Act of the Parliament of Canada passed in the Fifth year of His Majesty’s Reign entitled “The Alberta Act” certain territory then forming part of the Dominion of Canada was established as a Province of the said Dominion as from the first day of September One thousand nine hundred and five to be called and known as the “Province of Alberta”. And forasmuch as it is Our Royal will and pleasure that for the greater honour and distinction of the said Province of Alberta certain Armorial Bearings should be assigned thereto,-

Know Ye therefore that We of Our Princely Grace and Special Favour have granted and assigned and by these Presents grant and assign for The Province of Alberta the Armorial Ensigns following, that is to say: “Azure in front of a Range of Snow Mountains proper a Range of Hills Vert, in base a Wheat-field surmounted by a Prairie both also proper, on a chief Argent a St. George’s Cross” as the same are in the painting hereunto annexed more plainly depicted to be borne for the said Province on Seals, Shields, Banners, Flags or otherwise according to the Law of Arms.

Our will and pleasure therefore is that you, Henry, Duke of Norfolk, to whom the cognizance of matters of this nature doth properly belong do require and command that this Our Concession and Declaration be recorded in Our College of Arms in order that Our Officers of Arms and all other Public Functionaries whom it may concern take full notice and have knowledge thereof in their several and respective departments.

And for so doing this shall be your Warrant.

Given at Our Court of St. James’s the Thirtieth day of May, 1907, in the Seventh year of Our Reign.

By His Majesty’s Command

ELGIN

I hereby certify that the foregoing Copy of the Royal Warrant assigning Armorial Ensigns for the Province of Alberta is faithfully extracted from the Records of the College of Arms, London. As witness my hand at the said College this eighteenth day of June, 1907.

A.S. Scott-Gatty

Garter

Augmentation of the Arms of Alberta: 1980

ELIZABETH THE SECOND by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom Canada and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen Head of the Commonwealth Defender of the Faith To Our Right Trusty and Right entirely Beloved Cousin Miles Francis Duke of Norfolk Companion of Our Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Commander of Our Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, upon whom has been conferred the Decoration of the Military Cross, Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal Greeting!

WHEREAS Our Right Trusty Councillor His Excellency the Right Honourable Edward Schreyer Chancellor of Our Order of Military Merit upon whom has been conferred the Canadian Forces Decoration Our Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada has represented unto Us that Our Royal Predecessor King Edward VII did by Warranrt dated the Thirteeth day of May 1907 under His Royal Sign Manual assign for His and Our Province of Alberta certain Armorial Bearings videlict a Shield of Arms the record of which has been preserved in Our College of Arms.

AND WHEREAS His Honour the Honourable Frank Lynch-Staunton, Our Lieutenant-Governor of the Said Province upon the advice of the Premier & Excecutive Council of that Province has represented unto Our Governor General and Commander-in-Chief the desire that in commemoration of the Seventy-fifth anniversary of the foundation of the Province of Alberta there be added to the Arms of Alberta by way of Augmentation a Crest, Supporters, Motto and Compartment

AND WHEREAS His Excellency upon the advice of the Secretary of State of Canada has recommended this request for Our consideration

KNOW YOU THEREFORE that We having taken the same into Our Royal Consideration are graciously Pleased to accede thereunto and of Our Princely Grace and Special Favour for the greater honour and distinction of Our said Province of ALBERTA have granted and assigned and by these Presents do grant and assign in augmentation of the Arms of ALBERTA the following Crest: Upon a Helm with a Wreath Argent and Gules a Beaver couchant upholding on its back Our Royal Crown both proper and for Supporters On the dexter side a Lion Or armed and langued Gules and on the sinister side a Pronghorn Antelope (Antilocapra americana) proper; the Compartment comprising a grassy mount with the Floral Emblem of the said Province of Alberta the Wild Rose (Rosa acicularis) growing therefrom proper with the Motto FORTIS ET LIBER as the same are in the painting hereunto annexed more plainly depicted to be borne and used together with the said Arms of Our said Province or ALBERTA upon Seals Shields Banners Flags or otherwise according to the Laws of Arms.

Our will and Pleasure therefore is that you the said Miles Francis, Duke of Norfolk in accordance with the custom and usage obtaining in these respects do cause this Our Concession and Declaration to be entered and recorded at Our College of Arms and in such manner as may be convenient to ensure that in particular such certified facsimile copies of this Our Warrant as may be required by His Excellency The Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada and by His Honour The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta for their respective archives are provided and in general to the end that all public functionaries and others in Canada whom it may concern may take full notice and have knowledge thereof in their several Departments Offices and Appointments

And for so doing this shall be your Warrant.

GIVEN at Our Court this Thirtieth day of July 1980 in the Twenty-ninth year of Our Reign

BY HER MAJESTY´S COMMAND

FRANCIS FOX

Secretary of State for Canada

Let this be Recorded

Norfolk E.M.

Recorded in Her Majesty´s College of Arms

J.P. Brooke-Little

Norroy and Ulster

King of Arms & Registrar                                                                                  

Legislative Assembly of Alberta 

The Legislative Assembly of Alberta was founded in 1909 as a successor of the North-West Legislative Assembly.

The logo represents the tower of the Alberta Legislature Building located in Edmonton, Alberta and  built between 1907 and 1913. It is charged with the top of the mace of Alberta.

Police

Alberta Provincal Police 1917-1932

Alberta Provincial Police Cap Badge

Shoulder Title and Buttons 1925-‘32