Canada’s ‘Lucky Loonie’ Part of Winter Olympic Lore
BANFF – Money News – The Canadian dollar might be falling against the U.S. dollar, however spirits were higher than the loonie as the Royal Canadian Mint revealed the “Lucky Loonie” at a block party in Banff Alberta. The story started in 2002 when a Canadian loonie coin was buried at centre ice at the Salt Lake Winter Olympics. Canada won the Gold Medal at those games.
The tradition has come forward to the Sochi Winter Olympic Games. Each member of the Canadian Olympic Team will be presented with a ‘Lucky Loonie’ upon their arrival in Sochi. Officials are silent on any plans to put a loonie into the ice at the arena in Russia.
The coin was unveiled on Saturday at the Canadian Olympic Team’s Sochi Block Party event in Banff by Blake Richards, MP for Wild Rose, Christine Aquino, Director of Communications and Public Affairs at the Royal Canadian Mint, Steve Podborski, Sochi 2014 Chef de Mission and Jean-Luc Brassard, Assistant Chef de Mission for the Canadian Olympic Team in Sochi.
“Our Government is proud to support and foster the success of our athletes on the international stage, including the Sochi 2014 Winter Games,” said Richards. “The 2014 Lucky Loonie is yet another way to show our athletes that we celebrate their life-long commitment and wish them well as they represent Canada in Sochi.”
“The 2014 Lucky Loonie is a special keepsake to commemorate the achievements and talent and of Canada’sathletes as they compete at the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” said Mr. Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “Canadians can wish our athletes luck by keeping this special coin produced by the Mint as well as create a lasting memory of Canada’s participation at the Games.”
The circulation coin features a familiar Lucky Loonie design of a loon spreading its majestic wings while sitting on rippling Canadian lake waters, bearing the year 2014. Designed by artist Emily S. Damstra, the coin also features the Canadian Olympic Team logo. Five million 2014 Lucky Loonies have been produced and will enter into circulation onJanuary 20th.
