Echo Bay in Algoma District, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Echo Bay Celebrates Canada's Iconic “Loonie”
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Célébre le « huard », pièce emblématique du Canada
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 10, 2024
1. Echo Bay Celebrates Canada's Iconic “Loonie” Marker
Both the loon dollar and this monument were designed by local artist, Robert Ralph Carmichael. The hand sculpted giant coin carries the date 1987, the year of the launch of the one dollar coin. The nickname “loonie” has become so widely recognized that the Royal Canadian Mint obtained the legal rights to the name in 2006. Echo Bay is proud to be the home of the largest loonie in the world and most visitors agree that Algoma Country's big loonie has 20 times the value of Sudbury's big nickel.
The monument to the loon dollar was erected in 1993 for the centennial of the Township of Macdonald, Meredith and Aberdeen Additional. Mr Carmichael is second from the left at the dedication event. The stones for the base were carefully chosen
this page online
Although Canada does not yet have an official bird, the common loon would be a front runner and this coin helped secure its position. This shapely diving bird with its haunting call is very common in Algoma Country because of the many water habitats like Echo Bay. It is found in all corners of Canada.
La pièce d'un dollar et ce monument sont tous deux signés par l'artiste local Robert-Ralph Carmichael. La pièce géante sculptée à la main porte
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 10, 2024
2. Canada's Iconic “Loonie”
On a érigé ce monument au « huard » en 1993 à l'occasion du centenaire du canton Macdonald Meredith and Aberdeen Additional. À cette cérémonie d'inauguration, M. Carmichael est le second à gauche. On a soigneusement choisi des pierres de la localité pour construire le socle. Regardez les nombreux morceaux de conglomérat, une roche caractèristique d'Algoma qui ressemble à de la crème glacée contenant des gros morceaux de cerise. (Photo : Avec l'aimable autorisation du Township of Macdonald, Meredith and Aberdeen Additional)
Bien que le Canada n'ait pas encore désigné d'oiseau emblématique, le plongeon huard est en tête de list et cette pièce vient conforter son avance. Cet oiseau plonger aux formes fuselées émet un son fantomatique qui résonne souvènt dans les nombreux habitats
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 10, 2024
3. Canada's Loon Dollar Monument (south elevation)
The reverse, "Loonie", side of the coin is represented on the south side of the monument. This historical marker is in the foreground.
Erected by Village of Echo Bay.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1987.
Location. 46° 29.306′ N, 84° 4.416′ W. Marker is in Echo Bay, Ontario, in Algoma District. It is on Provincial Highway 17B half a kilometer north of Church Street, on the left when traveling north. The marker and Loonie Monument are located in a wayside just south of the Lake George Marsh Boardwalk facility. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3159 Ontario Highway 17B, Echo Bay ON P0S 0A5, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma Area and in Northern Ontario. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, in the Great North Woods, on the Great Lakes, on Lake Superior’s North Shore, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 10, 2024
4. Canada's Loon Dollar Monument (north elevation)
The obverse, Queen Elizabeth, side of the coin is represented on the north side of the monument.
Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within 23 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Welcome to Echo Bay (a few steps from this marker); "Ripple Rock" (approx. 19.1 kilometers away); St. Joseph World War Memorial (approx. 21.8 kilometers away); Site of John Richards' Homestead (approx. 21.9 kilometers away).
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . . Loonie (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: After a 21-month period in which the loonie and $1 note were produced concurrently with each other, the Bank of Canada ceased production of the dollar banknote. The final dollar bills were printed on June 30, 1989. Initial support for the coin was mixed, but withdrawing the banknote forced acceptance of the coin. The loonie has subsequently gained iconic status within Canada, and is now regarded as a national symbol. The term "loonie" has since become synonymous with the Canadian dollar itself. The town of Echo Bay, Ontario, home of Robert-Ralph Carmichael, erected a large loonie(Submitted on May 6, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)monument in his honour in 1992 along the highway, similar to Sudbury's “Big Nickel”.
5. Marker detail: 25th Anniversary Dollar CoinMr. Carmichael and his wife, Gwen Keatley, also created the design for a 25th anniversary one dollar coin to commemorate the first quarter century of the golden-coloured original. It is silver and features two common loons. Fifteen thousand were minted.• • • M. Carmichael et son épouse, Gwen Keatley, ont aussi conçu la pièce du 25e anniversaire du huard original de couleur or. La pièce commémorative est en argent et représente deux plongeons huards. Elle a été tirée à 15 000 exemplaires.The most prevalent versions of the coin show a common loon, a bird found throughout Canada, on the reverse and Queen Elizabeth II, the nation's head of state at the time of the coin's issue, on the obverse. Various commemorative and specimen-set editions of the coin with special designs replacing the loon on the reverse have been minted over the years. Beginning in December 2023, a new version featuring King Charles III entered circulation, to replace the version featuring Elizabeth II.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 10, 2024
6. Loon Dollar Monument Plaque
Rededication to the township of
MacDonald Meredith and Aberdeen additional
125 Years
1892-2017
in recognition of
The Late Robert-Ralph Carmichael
A resident of our municipality
designer of Canada’s Loon Dollar Coin “1987”
and sculptor (modeler) of this monument
Fabrication by
Chorny Fiberglass Products LTD
Refurbished by Superior 7 Advertising LTD
This monument made possible by
volunteer labour and donations
Credits. This page was last revised on May 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 5, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 411 times since then and 149 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 6, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
