A B.C. artist害羞草研究所檚 design is behind a new loonie being circulated by the Royal Canadian Mint to honour barrier-breaking engineer and women害羞草研究所檚 rights advocate Elsie MacGill.
害羞草研究所淚nspiring Canadians through stories of exceptional achievement is one of the most important functions of commemorative circulation coins,害羞草研究所� said President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint Marie Lemay. 害羞草研究所淲hat Elsie MacGill achieved as a trail blazing aeronautical engineer, and as a champion of women害羞草研究所檚 rights, made a difference in her lifetime and continues to influence us today.
害羞草研究所淗ers is a story that needs to be shown and celebrated on a circulating coin that will be shared by millions of Canadians of all ages.害羞草研究所�
Tofino-based artist Claire Watson害羞草研究所檚 vision was selected by the mint to use for the coin. It features MacGill holding a pair of rolled-up blueprints with the Maple Leaf Trainer II flying above her along with a Hawker Hurricane fighter plane.
Her name, 害羞草研究所淓lsie MacGill害羞草研究所�, is engraved beneath the fighter plane and the other side of the coin features an image of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
MacGill designed the Maple Leaf Trainer II and helped produce over 1,450 Canadian-made Hawker Hurricanes for the Allied war effort in the Second World War, earning the nickname 害羞草研究所淨ueen of the Hurricanes害羞草研究所� for her unique wartime contribution, according to the announcement.
She graduated from the University of Toronto in 1927, becoming the first woman in Canada with a Bachelor害羞草研究所檚 degree in Electrical Engineering and went on to become the first woman in North America with a Master害羞草研究所檚 degree in Aeronautical Engineering when she graduated from the University of Michigan in 1929.
A polio diagnosis in 1929 affected her mobility for the rest of her life, but hardly slowed her down as she went on to become Canada害羞草研究所檚 first female practicing engineer in 1938 and the first woman in North America to design an aircraft, the Maple Leaf II trainer.
害羞草研究所淓lsie MacGill always looked to the horizon in her engineering and feminist endeavours and sought to move beyond it,害羞草研究所� said biographer Dr. Crystal Sissons.
Watson expressed her reaction to the newly minted loonie in a Facebook post.
害羞草研究所淗oly smokes害羞草研究所t害羞草研究所檚 so strange to see one害羞草研究所檚 own illustration on a new shiny Canadian Loonie,害羞草研究所� she wrote. 害羞草研究所淭hanks to the Royal Canadian Mint engravers for doing such a great job害羞草研究所� the coloured Hawker Hurricane looks so cool. I just LOVE how they turned out!害羞草研究所�
In a Facebook post congratulating Watson, Mid Island - Pacific Rim MLA Josie Osborne noted that MacGill was the first Canadian woman to earn an Electrical Engineering Bachelor害羞草研究所檚 degree (in 1927) and the first woman in Canada to be a practicing engineer.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e loved Claire Watson害羞草研究所檚 art for years in Tofino, but now we害羞草研究所檙e going to see it on three million new loonies! Congratulations, Claire!,害羞草研究所� Osborne wrote.
害羞草研究所淓very time this coin lands in your palm or jingles in your pocket, you害羞草研究所檒l know that not only does it commemorate a remarkable Canadian woman who championed women害羞草研究所檚 participation in science and engineering, but it was also designed by a remarkable woman Vancouver Island artist.害羞草研究所�
Watson has designed three commemorative coins for the Royal Canadian Mint since 2019, but this is her first design that will see general circulation.
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