January 17, 2005 OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- For the first time in its history, the Royal Canadian Mint will invite the public to vote for a coin design that will grace the commemorative 2005 Centennial Circulation coins for Alberta and Saskatchewan. The coins, both circulating 25 cent pieces, will mark the 100th anniversary of Alberta and Saskatchewan as Canadian provinces. Albertans and Saskatchewanians, and all Canadians who have a kinship with these provinces, will have the opportunity to vote among several designs specially commissioned for each province. Votes received between January 17 and February 17, 2005, which will be collected and tabulated through the Mint's website (www.mint.ca) and toll free hotlines. " The centennial of Alberta and Saskatchewan are important events in our nation's history", said David C. Dingwall, President and C.E.O. of the Royal Canadian Mint. "From agriculture, minerals, forestry, oil and gas, to telecommunications and nano technology their role in the development of Canada has been measurably considerable for over a century. The Mint is proud to celebrate their centennials by providing Albertans and Saskatchewanians with the opportunity to vote for their own design." "I would like to congratulate the Royal Canadian Mint for its innovative approach and all of artists who participated", said Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale. "Voting for those wonderful designs is an excellent way to engage Canadians and in particular the people of Saskatchewan and Alberta. " The name of the artists will be kept confidential to ensure that the voting process remains equitable and design focussed, but will be released when the coin designs are unveiled. All of the submitting artists are residents of the province in question, and were selected by the Saskatchewan Arts Board and the Government of Alberta. The three Saskatchewan designs feature a prairie aboriginal "Round Dance"; a pair of geese flying above the Saskatchewan Legislative Building, and a Western Meadowlark with a grain elevator in the background. Albertans will also choose from four designs. They feature an oil rig and a cowboy and the Rocky Mountains in the background; an oil derrick with cattle grazing at its feet under the "Big Sky"; a mountain scene with a Rocky Mountain bighorn (Alberta's Official Mammal); and a collective design featuring the prairie grasslands, the rolling foothills and the Rocky Mountains. The voting results will be submitted to the Government of Canada for approval. Once accepted, the approved designs will be unveiled in the summer of 2005, beginning to circulate at the same time when the demand for the quarter is historically the highest. The Mint will produce up to 20 million coins for each province, subject to market demand. Various collector coin products are also planned. To vote for coin designs, Canadians can go to the Mint's website at www.mint.ca. Voting information and links will also be available at www.sask2005.ca and www.albertacentennial.ca. To cast a vote by telephone in Alberta, please call 1-877-884-5550 and for Saskatchewan, 1-877-884-5557. The Royal Canadian Mint, an ISO 9001-2000 certified company, is the Crown Corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. In operation since 1908, the Royal Canadian Mint is recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and related services on an international scale. For more information on the Royal Canadian Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca. -30- Pam Aung Thin Vice-President Communications Tel: (613) 993-5092 Tel: (613) 991-5342 Cellular: (613) 220-5096 aungthin@mint.ca
