On May 30, 1907, King Edward VII gave Alberta its first coat of arms, in the shape of a shield. At the top of the shield is a red St. George's cross, the official flag of the Hudson's Bay Company. The mountains, foothills, prairies, and wheat fields unfold beneath it, symbolizing the province's variety of landscapes.

On Alberta's 75th anniversary in 1980 a crest and supporters were added to the shield to form our present coat of arms. The crest consists of a beaver, symbol of the fur trade which 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 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."

Detailed carvings of the Alberta coat of arms can be found in the Legislature Building in the Carillon Room on the fifth floor, on the canopy over the Speaker's Chair, and above the main entrance to the Chamber. The first two are the work of Brent Efird. The carving in the Carillon was unveiled in 1987 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Legislature Building. The most recent work is the one above the main entrance; it was carved by Chan Chun and put on display in 1990.