First Canadian Woman: Viola Desmond to be on banknote

Finance Minister Bill Morneau told a news conference Thursday at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que, "Today is about recognizing the incalculable contribution that all women have had and continue to have in shaping Canada's story. Viola Desmond's own story reminds all of us that big change can start with moments of dignity and bravery," Morneau said. "She represents courage, strength and determination--qualities we should all aspire to every day."

Desmond's sister Wanda Robson, who actively made Desmond's story more widely known, was present and announced, "It's a big day to have a woman on a banknote, but it's an especially big day to have your big sister on a banknote," she said. "Our family is extremely proud and honoured."

Even though Desmond had been often described as Canada's Rosa Parks for her 1946 decision to sit in a whites-only section of a Nova Scotia movie theatre and who refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Ala., in 1955, until recent years Desmond's story received little attention.

Prof. Isaac Saney, a senior instructor of black studies at Dalhousie University in Halifax, said Desmond was ahead of her time.

"It's a very positive thing in terms of honouring someone who was a trailblazer, and until recently was forgotten within the Canadian struggle for human rights," Saney said.

Desmond's act of defiance was a singular act of courage unlike Parks, who was part of an well-organized protest movement seeking its day in court, he added.

"When Rosa Parks refused to surrender her seat, an entire mass civil rights movement was ignited ... That didn't exist in 1946. The civil rights movement hadn't taken off. This militant approach to politics didn't take off until the 1950s and 60s," said Saney.

Saney said he hoped that as Canadians discover Desmond's story, they will come to learn about dark chapters about colonialism, slavery and institutionalized racism included in Canadian history.

Thursday's short list included poet E. Pauline Johnson; Elsie MacGill, recipient of an electrical engineering degree from the University of Toronto in 1927; Quebec suffragette Idola Saint-Jean; and 1928 Olympic medallist Fanny Rosenfeld, a track and field athlete.

Famous Five activist Nellie McClung, the Alberta suffragette who fought in the 1920s for women to be legally recognized as persons in Canada, was for many Canadians the most obvious omission from the short list.

There were more than 26,000 submissions from the public, which was later cut down to 461 eligible nominees who had Canadian citizenship and had been dead for at least 25 years.

Others included "Anne of Green Gables" author Lucy Maud Montgomery; B.C. artist Emily Carr; and Manitoba author Gabrielle Roy.

In a recent online survey, 27 percent of respondents made McClung their No. 1 choice for the first Canadian woman, with Quebec politician Therese Casgrain, MacGill, Montgomery, Carr and Desmond rounding out the top six choices.

The Bank of Canada's independent advisory council said it was looking for nominees who overcame obstacles, inspired others or left a lasting inheritance and Desmond fitted that standard.

Desmond built a business as a beautician and, through her beauty school, was a mentor to young black women in Nova Scotia.

It was in 1946 she rebuffed racial discrimination by sitting in a whites-only section of a New Glasgow movie theatre. She was arrested and fined and her actions inspired later generations of black people in Nova Scotia and the rest of Canada.

"She believed you could only be successful in life with an education, especially if you were a young black person," Robson said. "If I used bad grammar, she always corrected me -- in a nice way, of course -- all the time."

"If you wanted another lady, other than the Queen, to be on the bill, you've chosen the right person. At least, I think so."

The Bank of Canada said it will use the occasion of the new $10 bill to revamp other banknotes as well. Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister, will move from the $10 to a higher denomination, as will Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who is currently on the $5.

Former prime ministers Sir Robert Borden and William Lyon Mackenzie King will be dropped from the $100 and the $50.

The $20 bill, which has long featured the Queen, will remain unchanged.

It is the first time a woman besides Queen has been on the face of a Canadian banknote.

“Canadian women made our country what it is today, and they deserve a place on our currency,” said Morneau.

“Thanks to the work of the council members and to the thousands who participated in the conversation, a new generation of young women and girls will be inspired by the stories of those who contributed so much to our society, our values and our history. And, in 2018, we will all have a constant reminder of these exceptional accomplishments to carry around with us wherever we go.”

Nova Scotian supporters of the campaign including Truro's Raymond Tynes welcomed the appearance of Desmond on new $10 Canadian bill from 2018 onwards.

“I think it’s a great honour,” Tynes told TC Media, “It’s well deserved and it just shows that the powers that be in government are now starting to show some diversity and recognizing the different cultures.”

The Famous Five suffragettes, along with Casgrain, were featured on the back side of a $50 bill shown in 2004. But when a new polymer version was introduced in 2011 these women no longer appeared on the bill.

(Reported by Asha Bajaj, Image of Viola Desmond: Wikipedia)