Canada 150 coins

Coin collectors waited in long lines this morning at the Shoppers Drug Mart in Lime Ridge to trade in their regular loonies for special edition Canada 150 coins.

A St. Catharines man whose design was chosen to commemorate Canada’s 150th birthday on the 2017 Canadian dollar was chosen over thousands of others. The coin pays tribute to the Canadian railways that has brought the country together and the impressive landmarks that can be seen along the way.

“Starting from the west coast, the Lions Gate Bridge, the grain elevator from the mid prairies. Our CN tower, Chateau Frontenac, Peggy’s Cove lighthouse Cape Islander fishing boat and our steam engine and diesel engines of today.”

50 year old Wesley Klaussen, who spent the day signing coin collector cards, has had no formal art training, he’s just a talented electrician with a love of trains.

The loonie is one of five coins that each represents Canadian pride. A total of 40 million coins are now in circulation. This is the first time since Canada’s 100th birthday that all circulation coins have changed at the same time.