THUNDER BAY – Cash or plastic? That old saying will take on an entirely new meaning shortly. The Bank of Canada is getting set to unveil the next step in banknotes. The new polymer bank note series will be unveiled on Monday, 20 June 2011. The themes for the entire series, as well as designs, images and security features of the first denominations to be issued —the $100 and $50 notes—will be unveiled in a ceremony at the Bank of Canada in Ottawa.
The Bank of Canada will begin circulating the new $100 polymer bank note in November 2011 and the new $50 polymer bank note in March 2012. The period between the unveiling and the issuance of the notes will provide time for the Bank to work with its partners to familiarize Canadians with the new polymer bank notes and their innovative security features. The remaining denominations—the $20 note, followed by the $10 and $5 notes—will be unveiled and issued by the end of 2013.