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Robert-Ralph Carmichael

1937 – 2016

Canadian artist

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About Robert-Ralph Carmichael

Lived 1937 – 2016 (aged 78). Robert-Ralph Carmichael was a Canadian painter.

Robert-Ralph Carmichael (1937 – July 16, 2016) was a Canadian artist who designed the image of the common loon on the reverse side of the Canadian one-dollar coin. The coin takes its name, loonie (huard in French), from the image of the bird on the reverse. The artwork depicts a loon swimming in a lake, with coniferous trees visible on a point of land on the horizon. Carmichael's initials, RRC, are visible directly under the loon's beak, between the ripples on the surface of the water.

Robert-Ralph lived near the northern town of Echo Bay, Ontario in the scenic Sylvan Valley. Since 1992, the town has honoured Carmichael with a monument in the shape of the coin located along the highway. The monument is called the "Big Loonie" in reference to nearby Sudbury's "Big Nickel" monument.

Carmichael's artwork is part of a number of collections, including that of the Government of Ontario in Queen's Park, Toronto, the Canada Council Art Bank in Ottawa, and the Art Gallery of Algoma in Sault Ste. Marie in the artist's home province of Ontario. In Alberta, his work is in the collections of the University of Calgary and the Alberta Arts Foundation in Edmonton. A collection of Carmichael's work can be viewed at Roses Art Gallery in Sault Ste. Marie.

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Important facts

Birth century
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Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Robert-Ralph Carmichael's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Robert-Ralph Carmichael?

Canadian artist (1937-2016)

When was Robert-Ralph Carmichael born?

Robert-Ralph Carmichael was born on 20 December 1937 in Sault Ste. Marie.

When did Robert-Ralph Carmichael die?

Robert-Ralph Carmichael died on 16 July 2016.

What was Robert-Ralph Carmichael's occupation?

Robert-Ralph Carmichael was a painter.

What nationality was Robert-Ralph Carmichael?

Robert-Ralph Carmichael was Canadian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Robert-Ralph Carmichael

· Wikidata: Q7341148

· DBpedia: Robert-Ralph Carmichael

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Robert-Ralph Carmichael. https://biography.guide/robert-ralph-carmichael/

MLA: "Robert-Ralph Carmichael." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/robert-ralph-carmichael/.

Chicago: "Robert-Ralph Carmichael." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/robert-ralph-carmichael/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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