New Poppy Coin..........

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Royal Canadian Mint commemorates 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War with brilliant red poppy circulation coin

Poppy coin bookmark to benefit the Royal Canadian Legion's Dominion
Command Poppy Trust Fund

OTTAWA, Oct. 27 /CNW Telbec/ - On the eve of Remembrance Day
commemorations and the 90th anniversary of the Armistice, the Royal Canadian
Mint, in association with the Royal Canadian Legion, is proud to issue its
latest coloured circulation coin which features the iconic red poppy, Canada's
flower of remembrance.
The Mint will produce up to 11 million 25-cent coloured poppy coins,
which will enter into circulation beginning today and will be distributed
exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix locations from coast to coast.
Canadians are also encouraged to look for this special coin in their change.
"Through this unique circulation coin, the Royal Canadian Mint is keeping
alive the memory of all Canadian veterans who served their country with such
distinction," said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian
Mint. "Mint employees are honoured to pay tribute to those who have bravely
fought for our freedom, particularly on the eve of such a significant
anniversary."
"The Royal Canadian Legion is extremely pleased that the Royal Canadian
Mint has honoured our veterans with the production of this very special poppy
coin," said Mr. Wilfred Edmond, Dominion President of the Royal Canadian
Legion.
"Shoppers Drug Mart is honoured to be a part of the circulation of this
commemorative coin that recognizes the valour and courage of those Canadians
who served in the First World War," said Tammy Smitham, Director,
Communications & Corporate Affairs, Shoppers Drug Mart. "In partnership with
the Royal Canadian Legion, our Pharmacist-owned stores will also be a
distribution point for poppies during the Remembrance period to raise further
awareness and funds for our Veterans."
Between 1914 and 1918 over 650,000 Canadian men and women fought to
protect the peace and freedom our country enjoys today. Of those, more than
66,000 gave their lives and another 170,000 would be wounded.
Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian medical officer during the First
World War, was responsible more than any other for the adoption of the poppy
as a symbol of remembrance in Canada and the Commonwealth. McCrae was also the
author of the famous war memorial poem In Flanders Fields.
The 25-cent poppy coin marks the third coloured circulation coin to be
produced by the Mint and distributed in Canada, following the 2004 red poppy
coin which honoured those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend Canada's
freedom and the 2006 pink ribbon coin which raised awareness for the fight
against breast cancer.
In addition to the circulation coin, the Royal Canadian Mint is proud to
offer three commemorative keepsakes to mark the 90th anniversary of the
Armistice:

<<
- The 2008 limited edition poppy bookmark featuring a 2008 25-cent
coloured poppy circulation coin ($12.95). One dollar from the sale of
each bookmark will be donated to the Legion's Dominion Command Poppy
Trust Fund, which provides financial aid to Canada's veterans and
their dependants;
- The 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War commemorative
set includes a 2008 25-cent uncirculated coin depicting the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. Three
soldiers representing Canada's land, sea and air forces stand in
tribute. The set also includes the 25-cent poppy circulation coin
($24.95 CDN);
- and The limited edition poppy proof silver dollar featuring a finely
sculpted poppy in ultra- high relief ($139.95 CDN).
>>

These products are available directly from the Mint's 2008 poppy website
at www.mint.ca/poppy or by calling 1-800-267-1871 in Canada or 1-800-268-6468
in the US. The coins are also available from the Mint's global network of
dealers and distributors.

The Royal Canadian Mint, which is celebrating its centennial in 2008, is
an ISO 9001-2000 certified company and the Crown corporation responsible for
the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. In operation since
1908, the Mint is recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in
the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products
and related services on an international scale. For more information on the
RCM, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca.

Images and product details of the Mint's newest collection are available
by visiting ftp://communications:RCM2007@ftp.mint.ca.

To locate a Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix location near you, please visit
www.shoppersdrugmart.ca. For more information on the Royal Canadian Legion,
please log on to www.legion.ca.

<<
/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on
the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca.
Additional archived images are also available on the CNW Photo Archive
website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited
members of the media/
>>


For further information: media are invited to contact: Christine Aquino,
Director, Communications, Royal Canadian Mint, (613) 993-9999, aquino@mint.ca;
Bob Butt, Director, Communications, Royal Canadian Legion, (613) 591-3335,
bbutt@legion.ca; Tammy Smitham, Director, Communications & Corporate
Affairs, Shoppers Drug Mart, (416) 490-2892, tsmitham@shoppersdrugmart.ca

Photo

A member of the Governor General's Foot Guards, displays a new 2008 25-cent coloured poppy circulation coin commemorating the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War. Eleven million of these coins enter into circulation today and are available at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix locations across Canada. (CNW Group/Royal Canadian Mint)

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Regiments on DVD

Oct 27, 2008 09:26 ET
Wartime Heroes Honoured on Film

DARLINGTON, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire - Oct. 27, 2008) - Canadian wartime heroes who risked their lives night after night on bombing raids from the UK are to be honoured with a film premier at one of their drinking haunts - an old pub outside the airport gates.

The documentary traces the history of three squadrons from the Royal Canadian Air Force at what was RAF Middleton St. George, known in the North East of England as Goosepool.

Hundreds of young men in the prime of their lives died on bombing missions from today's Durham Tees Valley Airport. The DVD lists the name of every crewman who was killed, injured missing in action or taken captive.

One, Andy Mynarski, won the Victoria Cross. The DVD features his story and re-enactment, yet unpublished WWII photographs, rare footage, first hand accounts of the almost suicidal raids and what's left of the base on the south side of the airport - directly opposite today's holiday and business terminal.

The 80 minute production "The Seeds of Goosepool" is named after rare alpine plants which still flourish around the former Lancaster Bomber turning circles. The seeds were lifted into the night sky in the bombing firestorms, stuck to the aircraft and were flown back to base where they took root. They're found no where else in the UK.

The launch is in The Oak Tree at Middleton St. George on October 31st at 10.30. Coincidentally for Hallowe'en, one of the Canadian squadrons was named "Ghost Squadron" because of the number of losses. An average of five aircraft - that's 35 men each night - didn't return.

The project has taken almost twelve months to complete and comes on the 70th anniversary of Goosepool and the 40th anniversary of the commercial airport.

Producer Paul Frost, a qualified light aircraft pilot and former TV presenter said: "Those boys were thousands of miles from home, in the prime of their lives, in a strange country, risking death or serious injury every night of the week. If they reached the age of 21 they were thought of as old men. They are part of UK history and we owe them a tremendous debt."

The production team worked alongside local historians to bring the story to life. Available at the premier will be pilot and author Stan Howes, collector Geoff Hill with a selection of his memorabilia, Frost's mum, Doreen, 85, who made the bombs at nearby Aycliffe, a wartime WAAF to hand out coffee, cameraman Les Coates and editors Joe Weir and Richard Gill. Media will be issued with clips for TX.

The production will not be televised but is on sale from regimentsondvd.com. Please note the web site will not be live until Friday October 31.

For more information, please contact
Regiments on DVD
Paul Frost
011 44 7774 682288
Email: paulfrostmedia@aol.com
Website: www.regimentsondvd.com
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