The Royal Canadian Mint will no longer distribute pennies as of today and Vancouver businesses are bracing themselves for some change.
Many say they are happy to see the red coin go, but some retailers worry the transition won’t be a smooth one.
“I like the idea of getting rid of the penny just because it’s so expensive to make it, it’s kind of a pointless coin,” says one store owner. “For us, I think it’s going to be a little bit of a problem, because some people like the exact change.”
Retailers will be making adjustments manually, rounding up or down to the nickel.
But Downtown Business Improvement Association Director Charles Gauthier says in the long run people will be thankful for lighter pockets.