Canada’s Letting You Choose The New Face Of The $5 Bill But There Are Rules
The Bank Of Canada has officially opened up public consultations for who should appear on the new Canadian five-dollar bill. There are a few restrictions to keep in mind when choosing who to nominate. They've even taken one popular choice out of the running.
According to the rules, anyone who is nominated to appear on the five-dollar bill must meet three criteria.
They must be a Canadian by birth or naturalization who has "demonstrated outstanding leadership, achievement or distinction in any field, benefiting the people of Canada or in the service of Canada."
They also can't be a fictional character (so no Anne of Green Gables).
And finally, they must have been deceased for at least 25 years (with the cutoff being March 11, 1995).
Those rules, unfortunately, eliminate one popular choice that was trending on Twitter before public consultation even started: Gord Downie, the lead singer of The Tragically Hip. While he would qualify in two categories, his 2017 passing due to glioblastoma is too recent.
It also can't be Don Cherry. He may have been fired, but he's still alive.
However, another name that cropped up at the same time as Downie's could still be considered: Terry Fox. The Canadian athlete whose Marathon Of Hope raised money and awareness for cancer lost his life to the disease in 1981.
Still, the Bank Of Canada wants to hear a lot of names, allowing for each submission to contain up to five. Plus, you can put in a new set as many times as you want.
Along with a person, Canadians can also offer up symbols and images that they associate with their chosen nominees.
"This open call for nominations is another great opportunity to highlight the many stories of heroes, sometimes unsung ones, who have helped shape the Canada we live in today," Bank of Canada Governor Stephen S. Poloz said in a statement.
"I hope this process sparks conversations and encourages us all to learn more about our great country and its remarkable people."
Submissions must be made by March 11 on the Bank Of Canada's website.
It'll be a long wait for the new bills, though, as producing and issuing a new banknote can take up to four years after consultation.