The Royal Canadian Mint has released a new circulating coin honouring one of the most famous photographs taken in Canada during the Second World War: a five-year-old boy breaks away from his mother’s grasp to run after his father as he marches off to war.
In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the declaration of the Second World War, the Royal Canadian Mint was proud to unveil a new circulation two-dollar coin bearing this iconic image, during the City of New Westminster’s ceremonial reveal of the Wait for Me, Daddy War memorial sculpture, which was held Saturday.
“The Mint has embarked on an extensive coin program that will last until 2020, to commemorate the many aspects of Canada’s experience, at home and on the battlefield, during the First and Second World Wars,” said Marc Brûlé, Interim President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “This new circulation coin furthers our proud tradition of remembering the many sacrifices of Canadians at times of war.”
Warren “Whitey” Bernard, the boy in the infamous photograph, unveils the new $2 circulating coin at a ceremony in Westminster, B.C., on Saturday. A stamp and statue were also unveiled.
A 5-pack commemorative set of the coin is available through the RCM.
The reverse image is inspired by the iconic photograph Wait for Me, Daddy, which was taken on October 1, 1940, in New Westminster by photographer Claude Dettloff. The men of the B.C. Regiment, the Duke of Connaught’s Own Rifles, formed an impressive line as they marched down the street. In the centre of the image, a pale-haired young boy, Warren “Whitey” Bernard, has broken free of his mother’s grasp to reach out to his uniformed father, who is marching off to war.
Limited to a mintage of five million coins, Canadians can start looking for the Wait for Me, Daddy two-dollar circulation coin in their change, attend coin exchanges at special events in select locations across Canada, as well as at the Mint’s Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver boutiques, or obtain limited quantities through an online coin exchange at www.mint.ca/waitformedaddy (limited to Canada only).
The statue was released Saturday as well. (CTV photo.)