The Winnipeg Canada Mint was built just over 40 years ago. As you approach you see tons of flags flying high. We later learn that these flags represent all the countries that this Mint makes coins for. Yes! 65% of the coins produced here are made for other countries. Only 35% are Canadian coins - our nickle, dime, quarter, loonie and toonie that are in circulation. The Ottawa Mint makes all the decorative memorable coins.
We arrive and pay the fee to do a tour. Note you should call to reserve a spot in a tour ahead of time but we did not but were able to join a tour at 11 am. They should make it possible to book their tours thru their website.
Until the tour we wander around the gift shop and take some pictures.
Check out this gold bar! This gold bar is worth $750,000! We were able to lift it to feel it's weight (note there was a lot of security) and it was darn heavy.
The Canadian Mint also produced the Olympic medals for the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games in 2010.
A woman (we find out later her name is Tracy) overhears and comes over and says she has one. The coin is in circulation and she happened to get one in her change and just kept it to the side. She offered it to us for another toonie.
Isn't this so special. This is why we love travelling - connecting with people. Thanks Tracy!
While waiting I sit on a bench and chat with this couple who I find out live in Winnipeg but are from Zimbabwe, Africa. We pick their brain about visiting Zimbabwe as we hope to get there this Fall.
The tour starts and we are not allowed to take pictures. But I sure learned a lot.
I highly recommend that if anyone is coming to Winnipeg you should make sure to visit the Canadian Mint.
Here is a picture I found online that represents our coins - note we not longer have pennies in circulation.
Did you know that the initial loonie coin was not actually suppose to have a loon on the coin? The original design was suppose to be a voyageur in a canoe but those plates got lost so they went to the loon to make sure it was produced on time.
 |
| Across the river you see the Human Rights Museum on left |
After the Mint we went to St. Boniface Cathedral and Museum. The museum is small but filled with tons of information!
A large exhibit about Louis Riel. Louis Riel was born on the Red River in 1844 as the oldest of a large family. When the Canadian Dominion was formed in 1867 they wanted to settle this land and started selling off parcels. But no one consulted with the Metis who had settled here a long time ago.
When the government came to survey the lands Riel and a group of Metis challenged them. Louis Riel who spoke both English and French quickly emerged as a leader.
Negotiations began and a settlement was reached; however the government saw Riel and the Metis' actions as act of treason against the government. Even though Riel was elected numerous times to Canadian Government he was never able to take a leading role in the formation of the new Province of Manitoba.
He was forced to flee and went to the US and even after he was pardoned he ended up staying away for five years until the Battle of Batoche which we visited while in Saskatoon. You can read all about it here.
After the battle of Batoche and Riel was captured he was held to stand trial for treason. He was found guilty and hung.
Here is his actual coffin that he was transported in initially but was buried in a different one. Sorry it is not in focus.
After all this we are ready for lunch. We visit the Red Roof
Diner as it was featured on the show "You Gotta Eat Here". It was quite good. We end up ordering take out for our dinner tonight.
I then steer Bernie to a bakery called Baked Expections that our friend Megan recommended. Yup this is my kind of place. We each get a piece of dessert to go for dessert tonight. Bernie got key lime pie and I got the salted caramel chocolate cake.
 |
| this is their box - too cute |
Back at the apartment around 3:30 and we do a load of wash, make reservations for the next two nights and coordinate some plans for the next week. We are excited to see Dave and Pat in Sault Ste Marie.
Later we heat up some spaghetti that we got from take out and we open a bottle of wine and top it off with some amazing dessert.
We are aiming to be on the road by 8 am tomorrow. It will be a long day of driving to Thunder Bay.
We saw two mail delivery people today walking their route.
Here is our scavenger hunt list today:
MooseDeerHitchhikerEagle/Hawk- Licence plates from every Province in Canada - but you can not count the province you are in. So if we see an Alberta plate in BC then it counts, but not if we are in
Alberta.British ColumbiaSaskatchewan,Manitoba,Ontario,Quebec,New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland,Yukon, and North West Territory Skunk - saw a dead oneSheepBeaverGoslingsBuffaloGoatOwlBearLoonCranePrairie DogFisherman fishingCanoeHummingbirdAntique car on the road- Old VW Bug
Car broken down on the side of the road- Helicopter on the ground
Airplane on the ground- Speeding ticket- hopefully not our own
Ambulance with sirens onDump truckLine painting crew at workMail delivery person walking their route- Cruise Ship (from Janice and Jim)
- Coyote
RCMP officer- Hop on Hop off Bus
- Sea Glass
- Lobster
Driving distance today 50 km
Total distance 4720 km
Thanks for following.
No comments:
Post a Comment