The coin captures the wonder of a quintessentially Canadian tradition. The engraved scene is set in early spring, when the temperatures slowly climb during the day but fall again after sunset. The application of vibrant colour on the coin adds several focal points along the leafless landscape, which is otherwise dominated by silver and white. A sleigh pulled by a team of horses adds a timeless quality to the setting—as does the bright red sugarhouse nestled in the maple grove, where the sap is boiled to produce pure maple syrup. In the foreground, the eye is naturally drawn towards the bright winter clothing of a young child, who wondrously peers into a bucket and curiously studies the collected sap during their visit to the sugar shack.