Designed by City Alderman Lauchlan Hamilton, it was pictorial in nature depicting a tree, a sailing ship and a train,[2] and did not conform to any rules of heraldry.

Designed by James Blomfield, it contains many of the elements used in the current coat of arms: the pile (charged here with a caduceus), the logger and the fisherman as supporters, and the wavy bars alluding to the ocean.

Members of city staff visited the college to go over the design of the arms, assisted by the Chester Herald, Walter Verco.

[2] Inside the crown is an axe and an oar placed in saltire, alluding to the same two industries (logging and fishing) represented by the supporters of the arms.

The shield of arms also serves as the central feature of the Vancouver Police Department's badge.