Canada has rolled out a new $20 banknote that bears the portrait of King Charles III, the first monarch to appear on a Canadian note in more than 70 years since Queen Elizabeth II’s death in 2022. The Bank of Canada revealed the design at a Thursday event, with Governor Tiff Macklem describing the day as "very special."
The note is unique for its vertical orientation and for the image of the Vimy Ridge memorial on its reverse, commemorating Canada’s role in World War I. It also features a floral and leafy tapestry inspired by the King’s environmental commitments, and elements chosen with an Indigenous advisory council.
Canada is the first Commonwealth country outside Britain to put the King on its banknotes. Australia has said it will not feature him on notes, while New Zealand already displays him on coins. The new $20 will enter circulation early next year.
Wayne Long, a Liberal MP and secretary of state for the Canada Revenue Agency, said the symbols on the banknote "serve as a powerful reminder of who we are as a nation and what we value."
While the design has earned praise, polling shows many Canadians, especially in Quebec, favour ending formal ties to the monarchy. The new note arrives amid tensions with the United States and a recent visit by the King to Canada’s parliament, underscoring the country’s sovereignty.
