The Bank of Canada will feature a prominent Canadian woman in its next series bank note, to be released for circulation in 2018.
The announcement yesterday to have female representation in the nation’s bank currency, besides Her Majesty the Queen, coincided with International Women’s Day. The specific denomination the individual’s face will be printed on has not been determined.
“In our country’s nearly 150 year history, women, with the notable exception of the Queen, have largely been unrepresented on our bank notes,” said Minister of Finance Bill Morneau in a statement. “In 2018, we will bring real change to a new generation of women who will carry with them constant reminders that they are not only Canada’s future, but a celebrated part of our history.”
Over the next several weeks, the public can nominate possible female candidates to be the newest face of a bank note, but there are a few stipulations: The individual must be a Canadian citizen who has “demonstrated outstanding leadership, achievement in any field, benefiting the people of Canada, or in the service of Canada; the individual cannot be fictional; and the individual must have been deceased for at least 25 years.
The public has until April 15, 2016 to offer their nominatinos. An Advisory Council comprised of Canadian academic, cultural, and thought leaders will review the submissions and create a short list of qualified candidates for the Bank of Canada to choose from.
“I am delighted that an iconic Canadian woman will be featured on a bank note,” said Bank of Canada Governor Stephen S. Poloz. “Bank notes are cultural touchstones, and can be used to celebrate and reflect the diversity of our society. With this new note, we can honour the achievements of Canadian women and inspire future generations to learn more about the significant contributions women have made to our country.”
In the Bank of Canada’s latest Frontier Series, released in 2011, portraits of five former Prime Ministers are featured in the following denominations: $100 (Robert Borden), $50 (William Lyon Mackenzie King), $10 (John A. Macdonald), and $5 (Wilfred Laurier). Queen Elizabeth II appears on the $20 note.
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