The work of Haida artist Bill Reid on the back of the $20 bill is being replaced, as is the bill itself.
On May 2 the Bank of Canada unveiled its new polymer $20 bill, which is similar to the new $100 and $50 bills released previously. Instead of showing Bill Reid’s “The Spirit of Haida Gwaii” and celebrating the First Nations, the back of the new $20 bill includes an image of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France and poppies along the sides to pay tribute to the men and women who served and fought for the country.
“The Canadian Corps’ victory at Vimy is often described as Canada’s ‘coming of age’ as a nation,” said Finance Minister Jim Flaherty in unveiling the new bill.
The front of the bill features a picture of Queen Elizabeth.
The new $20 bills will begin circulating in November, and the government is working with financial institutions to transition to the polymer bill. The goal of changing to polymer is to reduce counterfeiting.
