The Globe and Mail
· collected 2026-09-06 · by The Canadian Press staff
For the first time in more than 70 years, a new monarch will appear on Canada’s $20 bill.
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monarch → appear → bill
The Bank of Canada unveiled the new banknote on Thursday during a ceremony in Ottawa.
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Bank → unveil → Ottawa
The bill features a linework image of King Charles III executed by Canadian engraver Jorge Rodrigo Peral based on a 2024 photograph taken by Andrew Parsons, a British photographer, for the currency.
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bill → feature → currency
The King’s portrait is displayed vertically on the bill.
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portrait → display → bill
Charles became King after the 2022 death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, whose time on the $20 banknote has now exceeded the length of her record-breaking 70-year reign.
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time → become → reign
Work on the new banknote began on the day of King Charles’ coronation, May 6, 2023, according to a Bank of Canada official speaking on background ahead of the unveiling.
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Work → begin → unveiling
The Bank of Canada has unveiled the design for the country's newest $20 note, which features King Charles III for the first time.
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which → unveil → time
The back of the bill features an image of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France.
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back → feature → France
About 3,600 Canadians died at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917 during the First World War.
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Canadians → die → War
Circulation of the new $20 bill is scheduled to begin next February.
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Circulation → schedule → bill
It’s the second vertical banknote produced by the Bank of Canada after the $10 note, which features Viola Desmond, a civil-rights pioneer and businesswoman from Nova Scotia.
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which → ’ → Scotia
It was unveiled in 2018.
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It → unveil → 2018
Since 1937, when King George VI first appeared on the $20 banknote early in his reign, all of Canada’s $20 bills have featured likenesses of Canada’s monarchs.
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all → appear → monarchs
As an eight-year-old princess, the future Queen Elizabeth was first featured on the Bank of Canada’s inaugural $20 banknote in 1935, before her portrait was replaced by her father’s.
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portrait → feature → father
She returned to the $20 bill in 1954, after ascending to the throne in 1952.
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She → return → 1952
“Her image became one of the most recognizable on our currency for generations of Canadians.
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image → become → Canadians
Today, this tradition continues with His Majesty King Charles III, who is appearing on a Canadian banknote for the first time,” Governor-General Louise Arbour told the unveiling ceremony on Thursday.
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Arbour → continue → Thursday
You’ll start seeing this $20 bill in circulation early next year!
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You → start → circulation
Arbour said Canadian banknotes are more than just a form of payment.
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banknotes → say → payment
“They reflect our history, our realities and the significant achievements of our collective journey,” she said.
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she → reflect → journey
“Our currency affirms our sovereignty and our determination to define ourselves in the eyes of the world on our terms.”
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currency → affirm → terms
Tiff Macklem, the Governor of the Bank of Canada, said at Thursday’s unveiling that the bill will feature new security features to prevent counterfeiting.
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bill → say → counterfeiting
These include a purple security stripe that appears to spin and transform when the bill is moved.
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bill → include → stripe
The stripe, which is difficult to reproduce, has been used elsewhere in the world but is making its debut in Canada with the new $20 banknote.
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which → reproduce → banknote
“Our new $20 note is both visually stunning and more secure than ever,” Mr. Macklem said.
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Macklem → say → ?
Ahead of the bill’s rollout in 2027, the bank will hold discussions with law enforcement agencies and financial institutions to raise awareness of its security features
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bank → hold → features
, Mr. Macklem said.
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Macklem → say → ?
Of the Vimy Ridge imagery on the banknote, Mr. Macklem noted that his grandfather, also named Tiff, was a lieutenant in the Canadian military who served as a liaison officer during the battle.
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who → note → battle
“Fortunately – as evidenced by my standing here before you – my grandfather returned home to Canada.
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grandfather → evidence → Canada
Many did not,” he said.
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he → do → ?
He noted that the Vimy Memorial, which he personally saw during a visit to France earlier this summer, is a symbol of sacrifice.
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he → note → sacrifice
“The soaring pillars and solemn sculptures honour those who gave their lives to protect freedom, peace and democracy,” he said.
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he → soar → freedom
