This coin portrays Canada's evolution in four images which together form the year 1999. The images include a totem pole, a native Canadian, an early settler and a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer. The creator of this design, Peter Ka-Kin Poon, is a talented graphic designer from Aylmer, Quebec. He operates the Sure-Hull print & copy centre (Centre de photocopies Sure-Hull), a national quick-printing franchise in Hull, Quebec. Prior to moving to Canada and establishing his business in 1992, Mr. Poon was the partner, cofounder and art director of the successful Deeppurple advertising firm in Hong Kong, one of the largest design studios specializing in toy packaging.

Mr. Poon also opened a subsidiary of his original company, The Opened Time Professional Laboratories, a colour laboratory specializing in colour photographic processes. He is a member of the Institute of Packaging Professionals in the USA and UK. He is also a corporate member of the Packaging Association of Canada.

Mr. Poon's coin design was unveiled during a special New Year's Eve ceremony in St. John's, Newfoundland.