From left to right: The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Royal Canadian Mint and Mr. James B. Love, Chair of the Royal Canadian Mint Board of Directors unveil the Mint's Highway of Heroes silver commemorative coin in Trenton, Ontario (October 31, 2011).? Twenty dollars from the sale of each coin will be shared between the Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial and the Military Families Fund.

TRENTON, ONTARIO – October 31, 2011 – Today in Trenton, the Royal Canadian Mint unveiled a silver coin to commemorate the Highway of Heroes. During the ceremony, the Mint also announced that $20 dollars from the sale of each Highway of Heroes commemorative coin will be shared between the Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial and the Military Families Fund.

"This silver coin commemorates the spontaneous outpouring of emotion by thousands of Canadians who have gathered along the roadway and overpasses of the Highway of Heroes to pay tribute to the brave Canadian men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice," said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "The Highway of Heroes commemorative coin also continues the proud Mint tradition of issuing coins that honour Canada's veterans and the theme of Remembrance."

"With this special coin, the Government of Canada is paying homage to every day Canadians who have shown their unwavering support to the families who have accompanied our fallen soldiers as they made the journey along the Highway of Heroes," said the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Royal Canadian Mint. "The donation to the Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial and the Military Families Fund through the sale of this coin will ensure that the spirit of the Highway of Heroes will endure for years to come."

"As we approach Veteran's Week and Remembrance Day on November 11th, Canadians across this great country are taking a moment to think of the brave men and women who serve and sacrifice to protect our nation," said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence. "The Highway of Heroes is a grassroots movement that symbolizes the outpouring of support for the efforts of the Canadian Forces. I am proud that the Royal Canadian Mint has captured the emotion of this movement and I commend them for supporting military charities."

The Highway of Heroes commemorative silver coin, which has a limited mintage of 25,000, can be ordered today by directly contacting the Royal Canadian Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US, or on the Internet at www.mint.ca/heroes. This coin will also be sold at the Mint's boutiques in Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver as well as through the Mint's global network of dealers and distributors, including participating Canada Post outlets. Please see attached backgrounder for further information.

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's history, its products and services, please visit www.mint.ca.

About the Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial

To be located in Trenton, Ontario, the Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial will be a beautiful, permanent memorial honouring Canadian soldiers - the men and women who have sacrificed their lives in the conflict in Afghanistan. Construction is planned to begin in 2012. Canadians' help is needed to build this great memorial and donations can be made online at www.afghanistanmemorial.ca.

About the Military Families Fund

The Military Families Fund was created in April 2007 by General Rick Hillier, the former Chief of Defence Staff to assist military families faced with unforeseen and often immediate needs that have resulted due to conditions of service. The fund continues to grow through the generous contributions of Canadians, corporations and other organizations, adding a new vehicle to support Canadian Forces members and their families. For more information, please visit www.militaryfamiliesfund.ca

Images and product details of the Mint's new 2011 commemorative circulation coins are available by visiting ftp://communications:RCM2007@ftp.mint.ca.

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For more information, please contact:

Christine Aquino

Director, Communications

Tel: 613-993 9999

Cell: 613-797-9125

aquino@mint.ca

Alex Reeves

Senior Manager, Communications

Tel: 613-949-5777

Cell: 613-884-6370

reeves@mint.ca



BACKGROUNDER

THE ROYAL CANADIAN MINT HIGHWAY OF HEROES SILVER COMMEMORATIVE COIN

Whenever a fallen Canadian soldier is returned to the Canadian Forces Base in Trenton, Ontario, the convoy travels along the 172-kilometer stretch of Highway 401 between Trenton and Toronto. Today officially known as the Highway of Heroes, this passageway marks the solemn journey of fallen soldiers and their families to the Centre for Forensic Sciences in Toronto, and preparation for their final resting place.

The official designation for this stretch of highway was borne of a spontaneous and unprecedented grassroots movement inspired by the thousands of Canadians who, since 2002, have gathered of their own volition along the roadways and overpasses of this route to pay tribute to those who have given their lives for our nation.

Unveiled on October 31, 2011, the Royal Canadian Mint's $10 Highway of Heroes commemorative coin is produced with 99.99% pure silver with a metal weight of 15.87 grams and a diameter of 34 millimetres. Designed by Royal Canadian Mint engraver Stan Witten in collaboration with Major Carl Gauthier, the coin features an overpass along the Highway of Heroes as viewed from the perspective of the mourning family as they accompany their lost loved one along the route.

The Memorial Cross, designed by the Royal Canadian Mint following the First World War under order of King George V—and which is presented to the loved ones of fallen soldiers—is carried by saluting soldiers, a symbol of the sacrifice of their fallen comrades-in-arms. The obverse features the portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, by Susanna Blunt.

The Highway of Heroes silver commemorative coin has a limited mintage of 25,000 and retails for $69.95. Twenty-dollars from the sale of each coin will be shared between the Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial and the Military Families Fund.