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JOHNSON: Helping design a beautiful new Canadian $20 bill

The bill is also, of course, quintessentially Canadian

On Sept. 3, 2026, in Ottawa, it was only fitting that Governor General Louise Arbour, the King’s official representative in Canada, took the lead in unveiling the new Canadian $20 bill.

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And as then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had promised the Canadian people back at the time of King Charles’ coronation, the King’s portrait features prominently on the front of the bill. Beyond the King’s image what one’s eyes are immediately drawn to on this panel of the bill are flowers, greenery, leaves, maple leaves, and poppies.

As the Bank of Canada explains on its website introducing this bill to the Canadian public (just Google bank of Canada new Canadian $20 bill), these botanical images recognize and honour the King’s lifelong “advocacy of sustainable action and his commitment to the environment.” It is altogether fitting and proper that the dominant colour of the $20 bill is green.

The bill is also, of course, quintessentially Canadian. The 13 flowers on the bill reflect the official flower of each province as well as of the three northern territories. “The stems and leaves connecting the flowers,” so the Bank of Canada notes, “are based on those found in the Books of Remembrance housed........

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