As Canada was celebrating International Women’s Day, Canadians were asked to nominate a woman to appear in the 2018 bank note issue.
And already there is interest in the Caribbean Diaspora to have one of their own in this historic and iconic move.
“A Canadian woman will be featured on the very first of the next series of bills expected in 2018,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
He noted, “Today, on International Women’s Day, the Bank of Canada is taking the step by launching public consultations to select an iconic Canadian woman to be featured on this new bill.”
Nominees cannot be fictional characters and must have died prior to April 15, 1991.
Once the nomination period is over, an independent advisory council made up of academics and cultural leaders will review the submissions and present a short list to Finance Minister Bill Morneau.
From now until April 15, Canadians can visit the Bank of Canada’s website at www.bankofcanada.ca to submit nominations for the woman they think should appear on the bill.
The nominee can be any Canadian woman, either by birth or naturalization, who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, achievement or distinction in any field, said a release from the Central Bank.
Trudeau said, “We must not fear equality. It is an essential part of any society that wants to be a leader in sustainable development, clean economic growth, social justice, peace and security.”
He said gender discrimination and violence remain commonplace around the world. Far too many women and girls are still denied an education, forced into early marriage or paid at a much lower rate than their male colleagues. The rates of gender-based violence against women – as well as men – are staggering, he said.
“This violence can destroy the lives of individuals, as well as communities.
“Let us teach our children to value equality, to practice respect and to stand up against discrimination. Let us set an example for our daughters and for our sons so that they can, in turn, set an example for their daughters and their sons,” Trudeau said.