Why having women on currency makes sense
This past weekend, April 23-24, a special committee met to whittle down a shortlist of Canadian women who could appear on a new bill. It's part of a Justin Trudeau's government promise to get such a bill into circulation by 2018.
It was big news when the U.S.treasury announced that the face of Harriet Tubman will soon grace one of its bank notes.The legendary abolitionist freed American slaves along the Underground Railroad after escaping slavery herself in 1849. And her inclusion on the twenty is thanks in part to the efforts of people such as Barbara Ortiz Howard, who founded the grassroots campaign group, Women on 20s. She is thrilled with the choice.
Harriet Tubman is someone who in fact can bridge the divided we have. She is loved in this country by people on all points along the spectrum of political and religious beliefs — she has something for everyone.- Barbara Ortiz Howard, founder of group, Women on 20s
The Current convened a panel to discuss the challenges of choosing which Canadian woman will be on the new bill.
Guests in this segment:
- Viola Thomas, band councillor for British Columbia's Tk'emlups Tesecwepemc First Nation.
- Linda Ambrose, professor of Canadian history specializing in women's issues and rural women, at Laurentian University.
- Rinaldo Walcott, director of women and gender studies at the University of Toronto.
This segment was produced by The Current's Shannon Higgins, Marc Apollonio, Sarah Grant and Ines Colabrese.