Earlier this year, the Royal Canadian Mint struck the first test medal that’s slated to be unveiled as part of the launch of the Senate’s new Canada 150 medals this November.
The medal commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Senate of Canada’s first sitting, which took place on Nov. 6, 1867.
“As the Senate approaches a milestone anniversary of its own, this is an appropriate time to celebrate the volunteer work of Canadians,” said Senator Serge Joyal, co-chair of the advisory working group on the Senate 150th anniversary medal.
“Not only will the medal highlight the contributions of Canadians—from coast to coast, from all walks of life and from varied backgrounds—it will highlight the wide diversity of the people whose efforts make Canada great.”
INVOLVED CANADIANS
Senators will award the prestigious medals to Canadians who are thoroughly involved in their communities, whose generosity, dedication, volunteerism and hard work make their home towns a better place to live.
The obverse will feature the Senate’s emblem while the reverse side depicts the Senate chamber. A space is provided to inscribe the name of the recipient.
The medal was designed by Lieutenant-Colonel Carl Gauthier, director of honours and recognition at the Department of National Defence, the organization responsible for much of the work that goes into honouring the extraordinary men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces.
The medals will be available for distribution in November 2017. Additional information on the criteria and nomination process will be announced at a later date.
“Senators want to take this opportunity to reflect on the incredible contributions made by Canadians from all walks of life,” said Senator David Wells, co-chair of the advisory working group. “We want to give some much-deserved recognition to Canadians who share the Senate’s goal of giving voice to people or issues that sometimes fly under the radar or don’t grab headlines.”
The medals measure 7.6 centimetres in diameter and be seven mm thick, which is the same size as the Confederation Medal of 1867. The new medals will be made from Muntz metal, which is an alloy comprised of bronze, copper and zinc. The finish of the medal is matte in bronze.