Ukrainian Canadian's design selected for new 25-cent coin (03/19/00)

Ukrainian Canadian's design selected for new 25-cent coin

by Myroslaw Prytulak
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

WINDSOR, Ontario - Ukrainian Canadian artist John Jaciw was declared recently by the Royal Canadian Mint to be a winner of its "Create a 'CentSation!'" coin design contest.

The Canada-wide contest invited all Canadians to celebrate the arrival of the year 2000 by submitting a design for a 25-cent coin that would graphically depict their perception of the future.

A total of 3,000 entries was received by the Royal Canadian Mint. And 12 of them (one for each month of the year) were selected by a panel of 12 talented young design and art students from Canadian universities and colleges as winners of the contest.

Among them was Mr. Jaciw's design. His coin, titled "Ingenuity," portrays an ideal environment of the future; modern cities, rapid public transportation, lush farmlands and the involvement in space explorations; all of them subject to interdependent adaptability, hence the name Ingenuity.

The Ingenuity 25-cent circulation coin made of nickel - one of 50 million minted - was symbolically launched on February 4, on the premises of Windsor's DaimlerChrysler Canada (Minivan) Assembly Plant, in the presence of many dignitaries, invited guests and plant workers. Brief congratulatory accolades were extended to Mr. Jaciw by the mayor of Windsor, two federal members of Parliament, and the presidents of the Royal Canadian Mint, DaimlerChrysler Canada, and the CAW local labor union. Media coverage of the event was extensive, as radio, TV and newspapers reported on the achievement.

A silver collectors' coin has also been minted.

Mr. Jaciw's most visible creations are: the official city of Windsor crest, the Windsor centennial logo, wood carvings at the Cleary International Center and the cartoons that graced the pages of the city's various periodicals.

Mr. Jaciw is known for his cartoons and caricatures in the magazine of humor and satire Vsesmikh, and for his fund-generating art stamps distributed by Detroit's Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus.

For information or to obtain the coin contact the Royal Canadian Mint: phone, 1-800-268-6468; fax (613) 991-2628. Information is also available on the website located at http://www.rcmint.ca/.

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