A new $10 bill will be revealed in Halifax Thursday on which a black woman, Viola Desmond, is portrayed. It is a mark of respect for her refusal more than 70 years ago to willingly leave the auditorium of a segregated New Glasgow Nova Scotia movie theatre. The bill will be unveiled by Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz. Desmond will be the first black person — and the first non-royal woman — on a regularly circulating Canadian bank note. She was a beautician and entrepreneur who sold her own line of cosmetics. When her car broke down on the way to Sydney, she decided to watch a movie at the Roseland Theatre. At that time blacks were relegated to the balcony of the theatre but Desmond sat downstairs where she was closer to the screen because her eyesight was poor. She was forced to leave.
SURVEY ABOUT FAMOUS WOMEN
A poll by Ipsos on behalf of Historica Canada suggests Canadians have a limited knowledge of some famous women in the country’s past. Most could not name the accomplishments of painter Emily Carr and author Lucy Maud Montgomery. It should be said that polls about public awareness of historical figures seldom do very well. Regrettable perhaps, but true.
Join us live from @hfxpublib for the unveil of #Canada $10 bank note featuring #ViolaDesmond. 11:30 am ET #InternationalWomensDay #HerStoryOurStory https://t.co/Y0lwDYJbLF pic.twitter.com/N7GMb45F5f
— Bank of Canada (@bankofcanada) March 8, 2018
