They were created when the shield and motto in the achievement were granted in 1905 by royal warrant from King Edward VII.

The additions to the arms were granted on 26 April 2002, and the process was completed on 13 December of the same year, when Governor General of Canada Adrienne Clarkson unveiled the crest, supporters, and compartment, after which the full achievement was taken into official use.

The crest is a crowned blue jay holding in its beak a sprig of red oak, both symbols of the island.

The gold lion passant is drawn from the arms of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn.

The compartment centres on a Mi'kmaq eight-pointed star symbol representing the sun; this is surrounded by roses for England, lilies for France, thistles for Scotland, and shamrocks for Ireland, as well as Lady's Slippers, the floral emblem of the island.