12 nominees made it onto a shortlist of iconic Canadian women for the next bank note.
That’s out of more than 26,000 submissions nominating 460 eligible women.
The Bank of Canada Advisory Council released the list this week, saying the women should resonate with Canadians, and reflect the diversity of our country.
The list includes Viola Desmond, a black businesswoman from Nova Scotia who challenged racial segregation at a movie theatre in her home province, Anne of Green Gables author Lucy Maud Montgomery, and womens’ suffrage leader Nellie McClung.
In order to be eligible, the women had to have broken or overcome barriers, made a significant change, left a lasting legacy, and be inspirational.
The list will be further narrowed to 3 to 5 candidates with the help of a public survey and input from historical experts.
The Finance Minister will make the final decision.
