Volume 55#16

In celebration of 50 years in business, Vancouver’s J&M Coin & Jewellery has released a 1.5-ounce .999 silver medallion. The medallions commemorate the 50th anniversary of J&M, which is owned by Joseph Iorio, but they also depict an orca (Orcinus orca) on one side. The orca design echoes sentiments from Iorio and other British Columbia residents about the mammal’s decline due to noise, toxic contamination and lack of food. “It’s an interesting local theme,” said Iorio. “It concerns the extinction of the killer whale. There have been a lot of deaths and concerns lately, and it’s something that has been in people’s minds, especially here locally.” This September, researchers in British Columbia said a young member of an endangered killer whale population living of the province’s coast had died after showing signs of malnourishment. Researchers said six new southern resident killer whales (a large, extended family of orca) were born in 2015 and 2016; however, the death this September was the third to take place since then, and none of the whales born this year have survived. Continue reading →