The Bank of Canada unveiled its new vertical $20 bill on Thursday, featuring security measures and a design that highlights Canadian sovereignty and Indigenous cultures .
This is the second note in the central bank’s vertical series and incorporates security technologies that have never been used before on a Canadian banknote.
Central bank employees have been designing the bill for the past three years, which included consultations with stakeholder groups, experts and Indigenous community members.
“We at the bank are immensely proud of our new $20 banknote,” Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem said at an event to unveil the note on Thursday afternoon. “We plan to start circulating the new vertical $20 banknote early next year.”
Here’s a sneak peak of the bill before you get your hands on it next February.
A fresh new face
King Charles III will be the new face of the bill, the first paper currency to feature him , replacing the late Queen Elizabeth II and continuing a longstanding tradition of featuring the reigning monarch on Canadian banknotes.
The reigning monarch has been featured on Canadian bills since 1935, starting with King George V, Charles’ paternal great-grandfather.
Charles ascended to the throne on Nov. 8, 2022, after his mother, who reigned for 70 years, died at the age of 96.
The Bank of Canada was instructed to feature the new reigning monarch by former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s government in its next redesign process, and staff began that work after Charles’ coronation on May 6, 2023.
Charles’ portrait on the new bill was taken for the Bank of Canada by British photographer Andrew Parsons, and it was then converted into line work by a master engraver to turn the banknote into a complex work of art to prevent counterfeits .
The process is still done by hand digitally on a computer screen using a special pen and special program, and the engraver will include little details into the portrait.
“Recognized both here and around the world, our currency not only reflects the strength of our economy but also embodies the collective trust we have in our democratic institutions and our future,” Governor General Louise Arbour, who attended Thursday’s event on Charles’ behalf, said.
Commemorating the First World War
The back of the new $20 note features the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France, which was unveiled in 1926 as a tribute to all Canadians who served during the First World War.
The Battle of Vimy Ridge is widely regarded as the symbolic turning point when Canada forged a distinct national identity, after Canadian soldiers fought to capture the ridge after British and French forces previously failed to.
Around 3,600 Canadians died at Vimy Ridge and many more were seriously wounded. More than 11,000 Canadians were also killed on French soil during the war, many with no known grave.
“The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is a symbol of sacrifice. The soaring pillars and solemn sculptures honour those who gave their lives to protect freedom, peace and democracy,” Macklem said. “It is also a symbol of Canadian sovereignty on the world stage.”
A unified Canadian identity
The new $20 bill also features natural elements because it’s a green note and represents Charles’ passion for gardening, environmentalism and conservation.
Each province and territory is represented on the bill by their floral emblems to the left of Charles’ portrait, such as the trillium for Ontario, the prairie crocus for Manitoba and the mountain aven for the Northwest Territories. Each flower is labelled in microscopic letters.
The maple leaf is also heavily featured on the bill, as well as the red poppy.
The Bank of Canada worked with an Indigenous advisory circle throughout the design process, and the bill includes four different plants to represent their people.
The bottom of the note features braided sweetgrass, one of the four sacred plants, and western redcedar, often called the “Tree of Life” in many Indigenous cultures. There’s also Arctic cotton, which has been used by Inuit people for lamps and lights and wild strawberries, which symbolize warmth.
Bank of Canada officials said the designs try to incorporate different stories to reflect Canada, Canadians and the unity of this country.
Historic new security features
The Bank of Canada unveiled new security features to make the bill harder to counterfeit, while also keeping the artistry and design.
The $20 banknote features a new purple security stripe, a first for Canada and the first of its size. It features a three-dimensional “magnifying glass” that magnifies the number 20. In the background, the number 20 also turns into a maple leaf when you tilt the bill.
The maple leaf and poppy on the purple stripe feature new holographs that pulsate in different directions.
The note has tactile security features on the word “Canada”, the large number 20 on the top and bottom and Charles’ portrait. Officials said the tactile features were designed to help retailers quickly identify whether a banknote is genuine.
But there are other new security features on the new bill as well.
“Banknote security is critical for Canadian consumers and businesses and for the integrity of our currency system. With this new note, the Bank of Canada continues its relentless fight against counterfeiting, because counterfeiters are always on the job,” Macklem said.
“Canadians use the $20 banknote more than any other denomination, and we want them to use it with confidence and pride.”
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Bank of Canada's new $20 bill features new security features and Canadian, Indigenous motifs
2026-09-03 18:50:14
