Canadians handle coins less often than they once did, thanks to the convenience of debit cards. But you’ll likely want to own some of the special coins that will soon be minted in honour of Canada’s upcoming 150th anniversary in 2017.

A few Yorkton-Melville constituents may even wish to propose a design for one or more of these coins. As the Crown corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada’s circulation coins, the Royal Canadian Mint is inviting Canadians to design Canada’s 150th anniversary coins. The 5-cent, 10-cent, 25-cent, one-dollar and two-dollar coins will circulate in 2017.

The contest provides the opportunity for Canadians to show their justifiable pride in our country. It will also demonstrate the kind of unique Canadian creativity shown by Yorkton-Melville constituent, Rita Swanson, in 1992. The artist from Churchbridge proposed a one-dollar coin design for the Mint’s similar contest in honour of Canada's 125th birthday. Her design won. Today, a six-foot bronze-cast monument of the coin stands just outside the Town of Churchbridge.

For her design, Ms. Swanson said she, “ … chose what I believe to be strong national symbols: the flag as our national emblem, children as our future and our source of inspiration, the Parliament Buildings as a testimony to our history.”

Ms. Swanson submitted the winning design from among thousands of entries, gaining Churchbridge the honour as the 'Artistic Birthplace' of the design. Over twenty-five million one-dollar coins featuring Rita's design have been struck by the Royal Canadian Mint and circulated across the country.

What does Canada mean to you? The Royal Canadian Mint wants to know, and is calling for designs in the following theme categories:

• Our Wonders (Canada’s beauty, from nature to monuments)
• Our Character (Values or principles which define Canadian identity)
• Our Achievements (Discoveries, exploration or victories)
• Our Passions (From culture to sports, to pastimes)
• Canada’s future (this category is reserved for Canadians 12 years of age and under for the 25-cent coin)

The contest deadline is April 30, 2015. Following that, the Mint, along with a panel of notable Canadians, will determine the finalists in each category. In September 2015, the Canadian public will select the winning design in each category through the process of online voting. Each circulation coin denomination will feature one of the winning designs in 2017.

Sandra Hanington, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint, states that, “As a curator of our nation’s history, culture and values, the Mint is in a unique position to offer Canadians a rare, once-in-a-generation opportunity to change the face of our circulation coinage as a lasting tribute to Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation.”

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