Women for the Ages – IMF Finance & Development Magazine | March 2019
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Bibliographic details
- Authors: GLENN GOTTSELIG
- Published: March 1, 2019
Overview
- Title: Canada’s New $10 Bill Delivers a History Lesson
- Author: GLENN GOTTSELIG
- Publication: F&D Magazine, March 2018
- Short description: Profiles Viola Desmond and the Bank of Canada process that led to her likeness appearing on Canada’s new vertical $10 banknote, and summarizes the note’s enhanced security features and the consultative selection process.
Viola Desmond’s case and historical significance
- Incident year: 1946.
- Summary of events:
- Desmond purchased a ticket for the balcony (seating generally reserved for nonwhite customers).
- Being nearsighted, she sat in the floor section to be closer to the screen.
- A ticket taker noted her ticket was for upstairs; she returned to the ticket counter to purchase a floor seat and was denied the purchase because of her race.
- She sat on the main floor anyway; the police were called; she was forcibly removed, injuring her hip.
- She spent 12 hours in jail and paid the $20 fine.
- Legal and social context:
- No laws in Nova Scotia at the time explicitly enforced segregation in hotels, theaters, or restaurants; no provincial court had ruled on the legality of discriminatory policies in these spaces.
- The tax on the balcony price of 20 cents was 2 cents; the tax on the floor price of 40 cents was 3 cents.
- Desmond was convicted of depriving the government of a penny in tax.
- Legacy:
- Desmond became an inspiration for the pursuit of racial equality across Canada.
- More than 70 years later she is honored as the first Canadian woman to appear on a regularly circulating banknote.
Bank of Canada selection and design process for the new $10 note
- Review year: 2014 (Bank of Canada reviewed the processes used to select and design visual content of polymer banknotes).
- Commitment: The Bank of Canada committed to consult more openly and broadly within Canada on new banknote series theme, subject matter, and images.
- Nomination and selection statistics:
- Over 25,000 nominations were received.
- Resulting list: 461 qualified nominees.
- Independent advisory council reduced the roll to 12.
- Public opinion survey: Just under 90 percent of respondents had no objections to any of the 12 women.
- History experts produced a short list of five names; focus groups convened for feedback.
- Decision authority and process:
- The advisory and consultative steps led to recommendations to the bank governor.
- The governor consulted with the minister of finance.
- Per the Bank of Canada Act, the minister made the final decision.
- Quoted rationale:
- Stephen Poloz, Bank of Canada Governor: “Finance Minister Bill Morneau agreed with me that it was long past time to feature an iconic Canadian woman on the front of a regularly circulating banknote,” … “So the bank asked Canadians to tell us who that woman should be. And that invitation unleashed a flood of nominations—over 25,000 of them.”
- Poloz on banknote purpose: “Banknotes are not only a secure means of payment that Canadians can use with confidence. They also tell the stories that have shaped our country,” … “Now, each time this new vertical $10 bill changes hands, it will remind us of our continued pursuit of human rights and social justice in Canada.”
- Jennifer O’Connell, parliamentary secretary to the minister of finance: “In 1946, Viola Desmond took a courageous stand against injustice that helped inspire a movement for equality and social justice in Canada,” … “More than 70 years later, we honor her as the first Canadian woman to appear on a [regularly circulating] banknote and hope her story inspires the next generation of Canadians to follow in her footsteps.”
Features of the new vertical $10 banknote
- First vertical banknote for Canada.
- Enhanced security features highlighted:
- a color-shifting eagle feather that changes from gold to green;
- raised ink on various parts of the bill;
- detailed metallic images—the Library of Parliament’s vaulted dome ceiling, maple leaves, and Canada’s flag and coat of arms—in and around the large transparent window.
Source: Women for the Ages – IMF Finance & Development Magazine | March 2019
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