Viola Desmond is finally receiving national recognition by having her profile featured on the $10 Canadian bill. The Canadian civil rights figure is perhaps best known for refusing to give up a seat at a Nova Scotia movie theater in 1946. Desmond was eventually dragged out and jailed for sitting in a "white only" section and was charged with a $20 fine and $6 in court costs. The act has been described as an act of courage, and while Desmond is often called Canada's Rosa Parks, she has received very little attention for her legacy.
The Viola Desmond $10 bill is the first to ever include a black person, and the first to feature a non-royal woman in a regularly circulating bank note. The new bank note features a vertical design, and includes a portrait of Desmond, Winnipeg's Canadian Museum of Human Rights, as well as part of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Viola Desmond bank note is set to enter circulation by late 2018 and will hopefully educate Canadians on the Civil Rights movement in Canada.
Historic Bank Notes
Canada Is Celebrating an Often Forgotten Hero With the Viola Desmond $10 Bill
Trend Themes
1. Representation on Currency - There is an opportunity for companies to promote diversity and inclusion in their brand by featuring underrepresented individuals on their products.
2. Education on Civil Rights - Businesses can offer educational resources and events to their customers to promote awareness and understanding of Civil Rights movements.
3. Vertical Design in Banknotes - There is an opportunity for banks and financial institutions to experiment with innovative designs in their banknotes to promote public interest and attract customers.
Industry Implications
1. Currency and Banking - Finance industry can participate in promoting representation and education for Civil Rights movements through featuring underrepresented individuals on their banknotes or offering educational resources.
2. Education and Publishing - Companies involved in education and publishing could offer educational resources or organize events that promote awareness and understanding of Civil Rights movements.
3. Tourism - Tourism companies can create traveling experiences that aim to educate and inform people about Civil Rights movements and promote cultural diversity and inclusion.