Royal Canadian Mint to Design, Produce Medals for TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games

TORONTO, Oct. 9, 2013 /CNW/ - The medals awarded to the top athletes competing at the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games will be designed and produced by one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world: the Royal Canadian Mint.

"With the expertise and innovative spirit of the Royal Canadian Mint, we plan to push the design of Pan Am and Parapan Am medals to a whole new level," said Ian Troop, Chief Executive Officer of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015).

"Every medal struck will tell a story — the story of the athlete's success and the warm welcome they received in Toronto and the Games region in 2015. They will be worn with pride, treasured and shared while offering a tangible reminder to everyone who sees them as a legacy of the 'People's Games.'"

As the Official Medals Design and Production Supplier for the Games, the Mint will produce athlete and participant medals, as well as offer numismatic coins and other related products to help promote the spirit of the TORONTO 2015 Games across Canada.

Previously, the Mint manufactured medals for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games and the Rick Hansen Medal to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Rick Hansen Man in Motion World Tour.

"The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to partner with the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games by handcrafting the athlete medals, which will be unique and unforgettable keepsakes of the Games," said Ian E. Bennett, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Canadian Mint. "The Mint is renowned for excellence, innovation and quality, and our employees are thrilled to once again deploy their skill and creativity to honour athletes whose own quest for excellence inspires us all."

For the 2015 Games, the Pan Am and Parapan Am medal designs will be unique from one another while remaining distinctly related through the design and the production process. TO2015 and the Royal Canadian Mint are working collaboratively on designs, which will be publicly unveiled in the spring of 2015.

The Royal Canadian Mint joins previously announced members of the TORONTO 2015 sponsor family, including Lead Partner CIBC, Premier Partners Chevrolet Canada and CISCO, Opening Ceremony Creative Partner Cirque du Soleil, as well as Official Suppliers Beanfield Metroconnect, Pattison Outdoor Advertising, FUSE Marketing Group, Toronto Pearson International Airport, the Toronto Star and Official Broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada.

About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown Corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. An ISO 9001-2008 certified company; 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 Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca.

About TO2015
The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015) is tasked with the responsibility of planning, managing and delivering the Games. Its mission is to ignite the spirit through a celebration of sport and culture. The TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10-26 and the Parapan American Games August 7-14.

The 2015 Games are funded by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, as well as other partners and sponsors. CIBC is the Lead Partner of the Games.

For more information about the Games, please visit TORONTO2015.org.

SOURCE: Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games

For further information:

Teddy Katz
Director, media relations and chief spokesperson
TO2015
C: 647.404.5263
[e-mail]

Alex Reeves
Senior manager, communications
Royal Canadian Mint
613.949.5777
[e-mail]