HORNBY ISLAND MUNICIPAL TRADE TOKENS

I have been a coin collector for over 50 years. Last year my wife, Dr Barbara Froehner, and I moved back to Hornby Island, B.C. from Germany. After being away for some time, we came back with fresh eyes.

Familiarizing ourselves with the Island by reading old newspapers, it seemed as, with everywhere else, one of the main activities was fundraising. Everyone needs money, and there just isn't enough for everyone.

About 15 years ago, in Lincoln, Nebraska (of all places), I stumbled across a large and comprehensive collection of Canadian Municipal Trade Tokens (MTT's), which had examples from across Canada, from Tofino, B.C. to Gander, Newfoundland and Inuvik, NWT to Manitoulin Island, Ontario. I learned how MTT's work and their history and thought this fundraising idea might work on Hornby.

My collection dates from 1958 to 1990, and most of these older MTT's are single-metal, coin-like pieces of $1.00 or $2.00 value. Most were minted in fairly large quantities and sold as change from participating businesses.

These new ones are different: With a value of $20.00; it is large, has multicolored enamels filling the designs, and it is sold by customer request.

They are very much a "Souvenir Dollar", with Beautiful Motifs and a Timely Message which reflects Hornby Island.

They are not cheap...but your $20 gets you value for money: A large 2" solid Brass and Enamel Token, Low mintage of 1,000 pieces, and (possibly) first in a series. The Pins are 1" Brass and Enamel and cost $3. (Makes a great Gift!)

MTT's work best when they are the product of Fundraising for a Charitable Organization. So it would be best for this Project to be sponsored by one of the Island's Charitable Organizations, but however good an idea might be, it takes money and time, and Boards of Directors always need "numbers".

So, we decided to do it ourselves.

The designs are my own, and Awards Canada of Winnipeg tiddly'd them up for production.

Obverse: Hornby Island superimposed on a Canadian Maple Leaf resting atop Blue Waves from the B.C. Flag, "HORNBY ISLAND BRITISH COLUMBIA" around, Serial Number. (Sets out the specific area of use.)

Reverse: A Forrester planting a tree and an Orca breaching, "GOOD FOR $20 MAY 1 - OCTOBER 31 2018", and this year's theme: "CONSERVATION". (Sets out the Value, Period of Validity, and Island Message.)

It started with an informative article in the local monthly paper about MTT's, their use and history.

I then talked to the Economic Council people and the Community Fund people on Hornby, to decide where profits would go and how to market that information.

I created a design and sent it to Awards Canada in Winnipeg for preparation and started advertising the Pilot Project.

After a couple more newspaper articles, the MTT's arrived and I started introducing them in earnest, going to public meetings and local businesses. Most had an inkling of what I was talking about from the newspaper articles, but seeing them, holding them and the small pins that are with them, the interest and energy began to grow.

Hornby is a very accepting place and doing your own thing is good. I kind of barged in with this, all new ideas and stuff, but the Island has been very positive about it, if not a wee bit perplexed.

Barbara and Jim Bulmer

We have 1,000 Tokens to sell. As well as 2,000 matching Pins. If all goes well, there will be enough money to donate a healthy chunk to the Community Fund and to fund this project for another year.

Island businesses have been very positive about this Project and are coming up with their own ideas such as inter-business games with serial numbers, who sells the most, and a Design competition.....So Cool !

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