Prime Minister Harper attends first season opener of the Winnipeg jets

October 09, 2011

WINNIPEG – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today attended the first regular season game of the Winnipeg Jets. Earlier today, the Prime Minister unveiled a newly minted collector coin to commemorate the return of the NHL franchise to the city of Winnipeg.

“I am extremely happy to be here tonight to celebrate the Jets’ first game since their return to Winnipeg. This is a historic day for Canadian hockey,” said the Prime Minister. “I am certain that this new team – whose logo is captured on the commemorative coin – will provide fans from across the country with great hockey moments for years to come.”

In order to celebrate and preserve this historic homecoming, the Royal Canadian Mint has designed and produced a commemorative 50-cent coin which features the new Winnipeg Jets logo as well as the year of their inaugural season (2011-2012). The coin, which is made of nickel-plated steel, is now available to Canadians, as is a silver coin featuring the same logo.

“On this momentous night in hockey, I would like to wish the Winnipeg Jets and all Canadian hockey clubs the best of luck in the upcoming season,” added the Prime Minister.




Backgrounder

WINNIPEG JETS COMMERMORATIVE COINS

On October 9, 2011, Prime Minister Stephen Harper attended the first regular season game of the Winnipeg Jets. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister unveiled a newly minted coin to commemorate the return of the NHL franchise to the city of Winnipeg. The 50-cent, nickel-plated steel collector coin was designed and produced by the Royal Canadian Mint and features the new Winnipeg Jets logo – a sleek fighter jet pointing north over a Maple Leaf - as well as the year of their inaugural season (2011-2012).

In order to celebrate and preserve the momentous homecoming of the Winnipeg Jets, the Royal Canadian Mint has also produced a coin made of 99.99 percent silver. This limited edition piece will feature the same logo as the 50-cent coin and both coins can be purchased as of October 9th.

Over the years, the Royal Canadian Mint has produced a number of coins which pay tribute to Canadian hockey teams in the NHL: A one-dollar circulation coin and a silver collector coin were produced to commemorate the centennial of the Montreal Canadiens in 2009, and over the years, coin gift sets have been produced for each of the Canadian NHL teams.

With facilities in both Ottawa and Winnipeg, the Royal Canadian Mint is a for-profit commercial Crown corporation responsible for the production and distribution of all of Canada's circulation coins. It also produces foreign circulation, collector coins and bullion coins, made of pure metals, for domestic and international consumers. 

For more information, please visit: http://www.mint.ca