Christa Bruce designs collector coin recognizing Black Loyalists legacy

May 31, 2021

Nearly 240 years ago, about 3,000 African Americans were evacuated from New York to Birchtown in Nova Scotia in search of freedom after the eight-year War of American Independence.

Declared a national historic site in 1997, Birchtown was the largest free settlement of Blacks in North America in the 18th century.

As a ninth generation descendant and Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) Product Manager, Christa Bruce was honoured to design a one-ounce silver collector coin recognizing the Black Loyalists legacy.

“I was given the opportunity to come up with a theme and when thinking about my own personal background, I thought this would be a great opportunity to take the time to talk about the Black Loyalists and the role they played in shaping Canada’s Black history,” she said.

The majority of Black Loyalists -- 1,027 – landed in Shelburne where Bruce was raised. Others also went to Saint John, Port Mouton, Annapolis Royal, Halifax and Fort Cumberland.

Mint engravers reproduced the Black Loyalist Heritage Society (BLHS) armorial bearings as a tribute to the free and enslaved Blacks who resettled in British North America.

The BLHS is dedicated to discovering, interpreting, safeguarding and promoting the history and heritage of Black Loyalists in North America.

“Based on the work that they do, we thought this would be a great design to display on our coin,” said Bruce who is a RCM Product Manager. “There’s so much symbolism in that design.”

On the shield, three Loyalist civil coronets represent the non-combatants who fled to Canada while the ship’s wheel represents the ships landing in 1783 and the BLHS focus on community development. The lion supporters symbolize the pride of Africa and courage demonstrated by those who sought a better life in Nova Scotia that is represented, beyond the shield, by the mayhem that is its official floral emblem.

The rock symbolizes the landings near Birchtown, the anchor in the crest recognizes the sacrifices of the families who undertook the journey that’s represented by the footprints in the mantling.

The motto, ‘The Heart of Your Knowledge is in Your Roots’, addresses the BLHS members’ interest in their heritage. Maple leaves also flank the armorial bearings.

“Black Loyalists and their descendants have helped shape communities from coast to coast from well before this land was even called Canada, and their legacy inspires us to build an even better and consciously more inclusive country,” said Bardish Chagger, the federal Minister of Diversity, Inclusion & Youth. “We recognize the struggles and obstacles that Black communities in Canada have had to overcome and continue to face and we acknowledge and celebrate the enormous contributions they continue to make to the growth, well-being and prosperity of this country.”

Bruce worked closely with BLHS Site Manager Cynthia Dorrington during the coin design consultation process.

“As a Black Loyalist descendant, I am proud to say that my ancestors were some of the 3,500 people of African descent who came to Canada in 1783, carrying with pride their Certificate of Freedom,” Dorrington noted. “They settled across Lower Canada, all with the hope of creating a better life for their families. Our rich history has been foundational in shaping Canada’s collective history and we are delighted to share it further on a beautiful silver coin.”

Limited to a mintage of 5,500, the $20 fine silver coin launched last February during Black History Month, retails for $99.95.

“I have purchased one that will be a keepsake that I hope gets passed down to the family,” said Bruce. “I have a 12-year-old daughter who I will give the coin to and my expectation is that it becomes almost like a heirloom.”

This is the third year that the Mint has issued a coin celebrating Black History Month.

The first in 2019 paid tribute to Viola Desmond who is featured on the Canadian $10 bill released in 2018 while the second honoured Willie O’Ree who broke hockey’s colour bar in 1958 with the Boston Bruins and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame three years ago.

Bruce also played a lead role in the design of the ‘Unexplained Phenomena’ coin released in 2019.

On October 4, 1967, multiple witnesses reported seeing bright lights in the sky that then disappeared into the ocean. Nothing was found and it remains one of Canada’s most well-documented Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) mysteries.

“UFOs really have a huge following and now after working on that coin, I totally understand why, “she said.

Bruce joined the RCM in 2015 after a spending almost 19 years with Bell Canada in Ottawa.

“A number of my colleagues got jobs at the Mint and word quickly spread that it was a great opportunity to work there,” she recalled. “We work on a vast amount of collector coins and I have learnt so much during my time here. I have learnt about flowers, animals and UFOs and now I get be part of sharing stories about Black history. It’s educational and I get to share some important information that has impacted us all as Canadians.”

Raised by a single mother and maternal grandmother, Bruce said they played important roles in her development.

“For my entire life, my mom stressed the importance of getting a solid education, standing up for what you believe in and just be strong always,” she noted. “My grandma was the same way and I guess I was fortunate to have two very strong Black women in my life guiding and encouraging me and also rooting for me.”

Like most Nova Scotians seeking higher education, Bruce attended Dalhousie University in Halifax and graduated in 1993 with a Psychology degree.

“I just think that psychology helps you in every aspect of your life,” she said. “It gives you the tools to be able to interact with many different people and to really understand human behaviour. My background in psychology has helped me to build strong relationships.”

Bruce has been an Ottawa resident since 1994.

“I left Nova Scotia in May that year to spend the summer with my cousin and the intention was to return home in August,” she pointed out. “I fell in love with the city and am still here.”