Coat of Arms of Alberta
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The Coat of Arms of Alberta, a Province of Canada was granted by Royal Warrant on May 30, 1907 by King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. On July 30, 1980, the Armorial Bearings (the Crest, Supporters and Motto (see heraldry for more details)) were added by Royal Warrant by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. The coat of arms represents the natural resources and beauty of the varied of Alberta landscape: the Rocky Mountains and their foothills, the grass prairies and the cultivated wheat fields.
The shield is also featured on the Flag of Alberta.
Symbols
The shield features, from top to bottom, a red St. George's cross on a white background, blue sky, snow-capped mountains, green hills, prairie and a wheat field. Some authorities consider this borderline landscape heraldry and would have preferred a more "heraldic" design.
The crest sits above the shield and consists of a helmet crowned with a red and silver wreath, on top of which sits a beaver, resting on top of which is the Royal Crown. White and red are the official colours of Canada and the beaver is the official animal of Canada.
The supporters sit on either side of the shield and consist of a golden lion on the left (representing power) and a pronghorn antelope on the right (representing Alberta's natural resources). It is interesting that neither of these is the official animal of Alberta (which is the bighorn sheep).
The compartment or base is a grassy mount with wild roses, the official flower of Alberta, and beneath that is a banner with the motto of Alberta: Fortis et Liber, meaning "Strong and Free."
Blazon
Shield: 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.
Crest: Upon a Helm with a Wreath Argent and Gules a Beaver couchant upholding on its back the Royal Crown both proper.
Supporters: On the dexter side a Lion Or armed and langued Gules and on the sinister side a Pronghorn Antelope (Antilocapra americana) proper.
Compartment: Comprising a grassy mount with the Floral Emblem of the Said Province of Alberta, the Wild Rose (Rosa acicularis), growing therefrom proper.
Motto: FORTIS ET LIBER - Strong and free
External link
- Government of Alberta: Emblems (http://www.gov.ab.ca/home/Index.cfm?Page=9)