Late jazz pianist Oscar Peterson has become the first Black Canadian and the first musician honoured on one of the country’s circulation coins. The Royal Canadian Mint unveiled the $1 commemorative circulation coin, with both coloured and uncoloured varieties, on Aug. 11 at Toronto’s Roy Thompson Hall, which Peterson knew well throughout his more than 60-year career. Called “the man with four hands” by fellow jazz legend Louis Armstrong, Peterson delivered memorable performances and compositions such as Hymn to Freedom, Blues Etude and The Canadiana Suite to audiences around the world before his 2007 death at age 82. The coin began circulating on Aug. 15 to coincide with Peterson’s birthday. “The Mint is passionate about celebrating stories of exceptional Canadians on its coins, and I am delighted that Oscar Peterson, the first Canadian musician to appear on a circulation coin, is being celebrated as one of the world’s most respected and influential jazz artists of all time,” said Mint Master Marie Lemay, the Crown corporation’s president and CEO. “Mr. Peterson’s music and legendary performances have brought joy to millions of music lovers in Canada and around the world and we are proud to honour him, through this coin, for his exceptional contributions to Canadian music and culture.” Continue reading →
From left to right: Phyllis Clark, chair of the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) board of directors, Marie Lemay, RCM president and CEO, Chrystia Freeland, deputy prime minister and finance minister, Kelly Peterson, Céline Peterson and Norman Peterson unveil a commemorative $1 circulation coin honouring Oscar Peterson at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto this August.
