Being amongst nature, in particular trees, is said to impart health benefits¹. Often when we travel, nature is the big attraction we’ve come to see: the majesty of the Swiss Alps, the amazing colours and creatures in the Great Barrier Reef, New Zealand’s natural beauty etc.

Today’s Wellness Wednesday falls on July 1st which is Canada Day so today’s post looks at Canadian coins. Yes coins as in money.

Canadian Coins – Google Images

There are five official Canadian coins upon which are some iconic animals and a boat. The following list summarizes what they are and the natural environment in which you will find them. Canada is known and visited too for its vast wilderness and varied geography. Let the coins be your guide.

Happy Canada Day!

Coins

penny – 1¢ and the maple leaf
The now defunct penny is no longer in circulation but has had the pleasure of hosting the ubiquitous Canadian symbol, the maple leaf, on its copper tail side. Find yourself some maple trees and go forest bathing in them.
Maps of maple trees in Canada – Google images

You won’t see the penny in stores anymore but you will see it included in the price. Once applicable taxes are added the final cost is then rounded off. (Brush off your grade school math.)

E.g. A postcard retails for $1.99 but the actual cost is $2. A souvenir pen comes to $2.53 with tax and you pay $2.55.

nickel – 5¢ and the beaver
Some would suggest that it was this buck toothed rodent that helped settle Canada. The fur trade dealt in beaver pelts and was the foundation for North America’s longest-running store the Hudson Bay Company. Where there is lucrative trade, there are people, rivalries and a push for domination and power. The French came, the English came, the Indigenous people were already here and the beavers wondering WTF?
If in Calgary, take a stroll by the Bow River on the pathway adjacent to the downtown core. In warm weather you can often see beaver dams along the river’s edge and sometimes spot a hard-working beaver building its home. The pathway leads to the Douglas Fir trail west of downtown where you will momentarily forget that you are in a city.
Fur Trade – The Canadian Encyclopaedia

Photo by Kimberley (c)2013

dime – 10¢ and the schooner
On the dime is the Bluenose which is docked in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Lunenburg is a UNESCO World heritage site which features man-made (architecture) and natural sites (Blue Rocks).
Explore Lunenburg – Nova Scotia Tourism Site

Photo by Kimberley (c)2014

Photo by Kimberley (c)2014

quarter – 25¢ and the moose
Moose are often associated with Newfoundland where they can be found in the wild and on your dinner plate. Take a hike or pleasant stroll in one of Newfoundland’s many national parks. The most famous is Gros Morne. But beware! If encountering a moose on the roadway, it can do a lot of damage to your rental car and you. The moose usually escapes relatively unscathed. Avoid driving in the dark in Newfoundland.

Newfoundland
Photo by Kimberley (c)2013

loonie – $1 and the loon
The common loon is the bird pictured on the $1 coin. It is an aquatic bird found in North America. The loon is noted for its call and a quiet stroll near an inland lake may yield a sighting.
The Common Loon – Canadian Geographic
Loons Calling in Canada – YouTube

twoonie – $2 and the polar bear
The polar bear is a predatory animal. It is far safer to see them in controlled settings; no solitary walks in the wilderness for a chance sighting! Churchill Manitoba offers polar bear tours and for those more adventurous, research expeditions are also available.
Everything Churchill – Polar Bears

Related
¹Article, How walking in the woods benefits your health

Weal World Travel posts:
Canada Day Special – Wacky Trips
Canada Five-O