Considering they’ve minted her image for more than 60 years, there can’t be too many places in the world more familiar with the face of Queen Elizabeth II than Winnipeg’s Royal Canadian Mint.
So, what better place to come celebrate her legacy?
To commemorate Her Late Majesty’s connection to the city, this star attraction has worked in conjunction with the Winnipeg Architecture Foundation to create a new exhibition and website that showcases how Elizabeth’s reign was reflected in Winnipeg.
Queen Elizabeth II & Winnipeg: A Modern Elizabethan Era is on now throughout the summer at The Mint, giving royal admirers the chance to see displays about Her Majesty and purchase special coins commemorating her life.
The exhibition has been produced with support from the Government of Canada’s Department of Canadian Heritage, and is curated by Daniel Guenther. Guenther is an architectural researcher and curator for the Winnipeg Architecture Foundation, and a noted monarchy enthusiast who was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.
The exhibition walks you through the styles of architecture that arose in Winnipeg during Elizabeth’s life and reign.
It spans from her first visit to the city in 1951–back when she was Princess Elizabeth and Winnipeg was being transformed with the now global heritage-designated Tyndall limestone that was embraced by designers from the University of Manitoba’s School of Architecture–right up to the opening of the Esplanade Riel, which she was present for, and the unveiling of The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, which was one of the last things to be granted the Royal designation by the Queen.
You’ll learn about Elizabeth’s many visits to Winnipeg—including one time she was temporarily stranded on the Assiniboine River–along with so many fascinating facts about some of the city’s most notable buildings including the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Thunderbird House, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, the dazzling addition to Red River College’s downtown campus.
It’s a must-see for both fans of the Windsors along with architecture buffs, while the website gives a nice overview of the exhibition.
While you’re at The Mint, its celebrated gift shop is always waiting for those of you looking for collector coins, including this new ¼ oz pure silver coin commemorating the Queen’s legacy. You’ll also find a whole selection of commemorative coins designed to honour her life, from coin sets to box sets. You can also see seven decades' worth of coins that cover Her Late Majesty's reign.
Of course, a visit and tour of The Royal Canadian Mint is an experience that’s always right on the money. You’ll see the state-of-the-art machinery that produces coins for countries across the world (and not just commonwealth ones), test your knowledge on global currency, see medals from the Vancouver Winter Olympics, and perhaps even hold a gold bar that is worth over $1 million (it’s heavy!).
The Royal Canadian Mint is located at 520 Lagimodiere Boulevard and is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Request your tour today at www.mint.ca/en/visit-the-mint/winnipeg-mint
