You can still get a penny for your thoughts, but you might want to do it before all the pennies disappear.
The coin is officially on its way out. On Feb. 4 the Canadian Mint ceased circulating pennies to financial institutions and is also encouraging them to send back any pennies they have or receive.
Last week, the Retail Council of Canada issued results of a survey indicating most Canadian retailers are prepared for the disappearance of the penny.
It won't affect debit or credit card sales, but consumers should be aware that many retailers are no longer accepting pennies and are instead rounding up or down. Some businesses have chosen to use and accept pennies until the supply runs out.
A sampling of local businesses where pennies frequently change hands weren't overly concerned by the coin's demise when contacted by The Weekly News late last week.
"We do have a sign up (telling people about the phase out) but it really hasn't been brought up a lot," said Uncommon Grounds South Park coffee shop employee Madeleine Braun.
"People are more curious about when it's happening or whether the price is going up or down ... It was known that this was going to happen for a very long time. I don't think it will be too big a deal."
At Sweet Jane's candy store in Halifax, employee Alyssa Buchanan said they didn't think it would cause too many problems for them either.
"It won't affect debit or credit, which most people seem to pay with anyway. We will still be accepting pennies from anyone who still has them, and I assume they'll be in circulation for quite a while yet," she said.
At The Great Canadian Dollar Store in Lower Sackville, manager Lottie Combden sang a slightly different tune. That store is one of many local businesses that have posted signs indicating they will no longer accept pennies.
"It will be a hassle and I can't wait until they (the pennies) are gone. The debit or credit won't be affected, but people are already asking about their pennies," Combden said.
The phase out might cause a few hiccups for consumers and retailers, but local charities and non-profit groups are hoping to cash in on the unwanted coins.
Krista (no last name given) at the Avodah coffee shop in Lower Sackville said although the penny phase out won't affect them, the Vineyard Family Ministry Centre (church) that operates the shop will happily accept donated pennies.
"We would love to accept them and roll them up if anybody feels they don't want to keep their pennies," she said, noting they have a pavement fund that would benefit from donations big or small.
At the Hospice Society of Greater Halifax office in Bedford, office manager Marguerite White said they are also accepting unwanted and donated pennies for their cause.
"We've had a few people just come in with a bag of pennies and give them to us," White said. "We have a bucket here now, and people are just dropping them into the bucket when they come in. We're going to start rolling them up soon."
Donated pennies can be dropped off at the hospice society's Bedford office, located at 9 Spring St., between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca
