On July 21, 1971, the Council of the County of Barrhead No.11 gave third reading to By-Law No. 11-71, authorizing an official crest for the County. The Council was desirous of adopting an emblem for the County which would represent the amenities and history of the area and approved the make-up of the crest as follows:

The Crest of the County of Barrhead shall be designed as a simple shield, the traditional shape of a heraldic shield.

The Shield shall be divided by a St. Andrew's Cross as found in the crest of Barrhead, Scotland, from which Barrhead, Alberta, derives its name.

In the centre of the cross is superimposed a wild rose flower - the floral emblem of the Province of Alberta. Superimposed on the centre of the rose is the figure 11, the County number of Barrhead.

The background of the shield is pale blue, as in the Cross of St. Andrew and representing the blue of the Alberta sky.

In the upper quadrant of the shield is a moose head representing the wild life and game of the area.

In the left quadrant, a golden ear of wheat and one of barley represent the agriculture.

In the right quadrant a spruce tree represents the forestry and a golden line across the foot of the tree represents the Klondike Trail, which runs through the County.

In the lower quadrant in which is superimposed a lightning bolt with wavy blue and white lines below the cloud, represents Thunder Lake, the most important of the many lakes and recreational areas in the County.

On either side of the shield are supporters. On the left is a wolf, still to be found in the area, but is a supporter of the shield of Barrhead, Scotland. On the right is a blue heron, to be found nesting by the lakes of the County, particularly by Thunder Lake.

Above the shield is a County Council coronet of five spikes with golden wheat sheaves between all on a green circlet. This crown is used in Scottish heraldry to distinguish a county from a burgh council.

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