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| Viola Desmond, Canadian who fought segregation, to appear on $10 note | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Viola Desmond, a black businesswoman who challenged racial segregation in Canada in 1946, will be the new face of the C$10 bill, the government said on Thursday, making her the first Canadian woman to be prominently featured on a banknote. | Viola Desmond, a black businesswoman who challenged racial segregation in Canada in 1946, will be the new face of the C$10 bill, the government said on Thursday, making her the first Canadian woman to be prominently featured on a banknote. |
| Desmond refused to leave a whites-only Nova Scotia movie theater in an incident that took place nearly a decade before Rosa Parks’ refusal to move to the segregated part of a bus in the United States. Desmond was subsequently jailed, convicted and fined. | Desmond refused to leave a whites-only Nova Scotia movie theater in an incident that took place nearly a decade before Rosa Parks’ refusal to move to the segregated part of a bus in the United States. Desmond was subsequently jailed, convicted and fined. |
| The selection of Desmond for the commonly used bill will bring the role of black people in Canada’s history to the fore, according to Queen’s University historian Barrington Walker. | The selection of Desmond for the commonly used bill will bring the role of black people in Canada’s history to the fore, according to Queen’s University historian Barrington Walker. |
| “It shows that Canada is increasingly willing to acknowledge the civil rights challenges that black Canadians faced in the past,” he said. “In very short order, she will become a household name.” | “It shows that Canada is increasingly willing to acknowledge the civil rights challenges that black Canadians faced in the past,” he said. “In very short order, she will become a household name.” |
| While the Queen of England appears on most Canadian currency, Desmond is the first Canadian woman to be featured on a regularly circulating banknote. | While the Queen of England appears on most Canadian currency, Desmond is the first Canadian woman to be featured on a regularly circulating banknote. |
| “Viola Desmond is a woman who broke barriers, who provided an inspiration for Canadians around social justice issues and showed that each of us individually in courageous moments can make a difference,” said Finance Minister Bill Morneau. | “Viola Desmond is a woman who broke barriers, who provided an inspiration for Canadians around social justice issues and showed that each of us individually in courageous moments can make a difference,” said Finance Minister Bill Morneau. |
| Desmond, who died in 1965, was chosen from thousands of submissions after an open call for candidates earlier this year. The short list included social activists, an engineer, a poet and an athlete. | Desmond, who died in 1965, was chosen from thousands of submissions after an open call for candidates earlier this year. The short list included social activists, an engineer, a poet and an athlete. |
| “Viola inspires us ... today as she inspired people years ago,” said her sister Wanda Robson, who attended the announcement on Thursday. “I’m so proud, I’m almost in tears.” | “Viola inspires us ... today as she inspired people years ago,” said her sister Wanda Robson, who attended the announcement on Thursday. “I’m so proud, I’m almost in tears.” |
| Desmond will replace John A Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister, when the new bill debuts in late 2018. Macdonald will be moved to a higher denomination bill. | Desmond will replace John A Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister, when the new bill debuts in late 2018. Macdonald will be moved to a higher denomination bill. |
| The Canadian government is also planning to redesign the C$5 bill and will launch another search for a new Canadian to take the place of Wilfrid Laurier, Canada’s first francophone prime minister. Laurier will also be moved to a higher bill. | The Canadian government is also planning to redesign the C$5 bill and will launch another search for a new Canadian to take the place of Wilfrid Laurier, Canada’s first francophone prime minister. Laurier will also be moved to a higher bill. |
| Putting a woman on a banknote was the latest step the one-year-old Liberal government has taken to promote gender equality, a major plank of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s election campaign. | Putting a woman on a banknote was the latest step the one-year-old Liberal government has taken to promote gender equality, a major plank of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s election campaign. |
| The move followed in the footsteps of the United States, which earlier this year said anti-slavery crusader Harriet Tubman will replace former president Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, becoming the first woman featured on US paper currency in more than a century. | The move followed in the footsteps of the United States, which earlier this year said anti-slavery crusader Harriet Tubman will replace former president Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, becoming the first woman featured on US paper currency in more than a century. |