General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

2

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

A decorative metal coin.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

4.5 cm

Width

4.5 cm

Height

N/A

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Meteorology

Category

Commemorative

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Unknown

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

British Columbia

Period

2001/12

Canada

Operation PALACI is the world’s largest mobile avalanche control program. Designed to keep the Trans-Canada Highway and the Canadian Pacific Railway open where they cross the Selkirk mountains, Parks Canada avalanche forecasts guide Canadian Forces artillery blasting of suspected avalanche paths high in the surrounding mountains at Rogers Pass. Command is provided by Joint Task Force Pacific in Esquimalt, B.C. Regiments of the Royal Canadian Artillery use modified 105-mm howitzer canons to fire from 18 positions along the Trans-Canada Highway. With an average snow accumulation of 12 meters, Rogers Pass contains over 130 avalanche paths that intersect the Trans-Canada highway and the rail line. Parks Canada and the Canadian Forces have been working together since 1961 to ensure safe Winter travel for people, goods and services along this vital economic transportation corridor. Canada officially adopted the C1 105mm Howitzer as a replacement for the 25-pounder Gun on 11 Sep 1956. The weapon was an adaptation of the US-designed 105mm Howitzer M2A1. The Canadian Army continued to use the C1 Howitzer unaltered from its original M2A1 configuration until 1997 when a modification was made to extend its service life. The new weapons were designated the C3 105mm Howitzer, and included a longer barrel, muzzle brake, reinforced trails and the removal of shield flaps. Source: http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/weapons/ordnance/c1howitzer.htm

Function

A commemorative coin highlighting the 50 year partnership (1961-2011) between the Canadian Armed Forces and Parks Canada Agency in avalanche control along the Trans-Canada highway and Canadian Pacific Railway, in Glacier National Park, B.C.

Technical

Unknown

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Mfr's [front]:"OPERATION PALACI/SNOWPUNCHERS/UBIQUE/QUO FAS ET GLORIA DUCUNT". Mfr's [back]:"GLACIER NATIONAL PARK AVALANCHE CONTROL 50 YEARS".

Missing

Nothing missing.

Finish

A metal coin

Decoration

Front of the coin: coat of arms for the Arm Forces/an engraved beaver inside a circle/white and black map of Canada with a red maple leaf. Back of the coin: engraved scene of the mountains, forest, train and a canon in front of the scene. Outer edges trimmed in gold, white inner circle with gold writing.