Star Lake

About This Set: The Star Lake Collection is inspired by my childhood cottage located on Île du Canard Blanc in Lac Simon. This unique island is home to a smaller lake named Lac des Étoiles ”Star Lake”, a peaceful and secluded body of water that locals say was formed by a meteorite impact long ago. The island itself has deep ties to the Algonquin people, and many stories and legends have been passed down about the land through generations.
The collection was formally named the Wàwàte collection meaning “Northern Lights” or “Aurora Borealis.” The name was inspired by the iconic imagery found on Canadian silver dollars—the voyageur and Indigenous guide paddling their canoe—as well as the shimmering night skies reflected above the lake. To me, the scene evokes the quiet beauty of the Canadian wilderness, where stars fill the sky and the aurora dances overhead.
I decided to rename the collection Star Lake, a name that carries an even deeper meaning to the place that shaped many of my childhood memories. Looking upward from the shore, the stars sparkle and, on occasion, the northern lights paint the sky with brilliant colours. In much the same way, the vibrant toning found on many of the coins in my collection captures that same beauty and sense of wonder.
The Star Lake Collection is a tribute to the lake itself, the heritage represented on Canada’s silver dollars, the timeless image of the voyageur and Indigenous guide paddling beneath the northern sky, the luminous beauty of toned coins, and, above all, the memories of my childhood.