The first time I saw one of the new bills, I thought there was a hole in it.
In reality, the "hole" is a clear section with built in security holograms.
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| You have to tilt the bill, "just so", to make the holograms visible. |
Comparing the new bill with the old one, I am immediately struck by how kind the years have been to of dear Mr. Laurier as he seems to be getting younger-looking with each successive bill. In fact, I barely recognized him when I saw the new bill.
But that wasn't the only change.
On the back of the older bill was a skating scene, and the bilingual first lines from a well-known story called "The Hockey Sweater". "Le chandail de hockey" as it was called in the original French, is a short story by Canadian author Roch Carrier. Written in 1979 it is a true story from Mr. Carrier's childhood growing up in Quebec as a fan of the Montreal Canadiens. He and his friends all wore Canadien's sweaters. In fact their sweaters also all bore the number 9 on the back, as that was the number of the greatest hockey player of them all -- Maurice Richard. When Roch needed a new sweater, the mail order store mistakenly sent a (gasp!) Toronto Maple Leafs' sweater, which his mother insisted he wear ! He suffered awful teasing by his teammates and his coach refused to let him play his regular position !
In 2009 Canadian astronaut, Robert Thirsk took a copy of the book into space, and upon his return, presented the book to Mr. Carrier.
The story is considered an iconic work of Canadian literature. It shows our nation's passion for hockey while at the same time it points our the problematic relationship that exists between the French and the English in our nation. In spite of that fact, or maybe because of it, the story is popular throughout Canada.
The opening line of the story quoted on the bill is:
"The winters of my childhood were long, long seasons. We lived in three places -- the school, the church and the skating rink -- but our real life was on the skating rink."
For a bit of fun you might want to watch the the NFB's (National Film Board of Canada) charming little movie called "The Sweater" which was based on Roch Carrier's book.
So what replaced the skating scene on the back of the new bill ?
The Canadarm !
Waddayathink ?
I thought the same thing when I saw a new 5 last week, that Laurier looked younger. As someone who attended Wilfrid Laurier University, I always liked that the namesake of my school was on the bill, so I had to make sure it was still him on the new bill.
ReplyDeleteWhile I think the Canadarm is truly important and an iconic Canadian invention, I loved telling people in my travels, and sometimes showing them, that we have hockey on our money. I think hockey, and specifically that oh so iconic poem that I think all kids learn, would be much better suited on the back of the bill. But things change eh? We will get used to it.
I haven't thought about what is on the five's too much. I rather like the hockey, but the space arm has it's importance too, though it doesn't speak too much to the average Canadian. I have heard that if that fiver goes through the dryer, that it just melts into a plastic mass, and you are out the money as the banks won't exchange it for a good one. I haven't done it but the woman who was telling the story had the experience with the fifty. Not good.
ReplyDeleteanother good reason for not having a clothes dryer. lol
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. Ours has changed by adding security measures.
ReplyDeleteHolograms and such ?
DeleteWe have had plastic in our Australian paper notes for many years now Sybil and they wash up beautifully! (I know this as I have accidentally put many through the washing machine.) I wouldn't have recognized Wilfrid Laurier as the same man on the old and new notes either! ~ Joanne.
ReplyDeleteI figure Wilfrid is looking younger coz he's had some "plastic work" done too ! ;-)
Deletethis is my THIRD attempt to write a comment. (I think it was WordPress's fault.) Here's my question? Do you often wash your money, Sybil? Isn't that called "laundering"? ha ha ha ha ha. (No wonder the Universe kept erasing my comment.)
ReplyDeleteWhat is going on with all these commenting problems ? Thanks for persevering.
DeleteWish I had enough money to "launder". lol
Some fella left his wallet on top of his toaster oven and complained when the bills inside melted together ... guess he would have preferred the older bills that would have just caught on fire !
Bring back The Sweater! I love that story. I usually hear it during Xmas on CBC radio.
ReplyDeleteI never realized it was a true story from his childhood.
DeleteWell, all Canadian money is more interesting than American money. Our money doesn't carry with it any of those cool stories or history.
ReplyDeleteAre you kidding me ? What was that movie ... "National Treaure" with Nicolas Cage. Some incredible myths/legends surrounding the iconography of your one dollar bill. Or am I mistaking Hollywood's version for reality ?
DeleteHa! We just took a look at the new 5 dollar bill and my husband at forts didn't recognize Laurier.....he said he got a haircut.....and look closely and compare to the old 5...doesn't he now look a lot more like Harper? Something about the eyes.....not Laurier's eyes, and now he has a broader chin and forehead....look at real photos of Laurier. Weird.
ReplyDeleteHe certainly changed as he aged, that's for sure. The angle of the more youthful image sure emphasizes his forehead. "Looks like Harper?" Oh dear.
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