How a retired Cape Breton University prof helped shape Canada’s new $20 bill

Three years ago, when the Bank of Canada formed a committee to design the new vertical $20 bill featuring King Charles III, officials consulted a Cape Breton man. 

David Johnson, a retired political science professor at Cape Breton University, lives in Sydney River and has long studied the monarchy’s role in Canada.

He says he still can’t believe he had the opportunity to help select images for the banknote.

“I still pinch myself when I have to talk about this. I was invited to be part of a thematic advisory group advising officials at the bank,” Johnson said.

He was part of a seven-person committee consulted by senior bank officials to come up with concepts for the bill.

“The bank wanted ideas about just what type of images would go on to the bill. So again, they were talking about, ‘What does the King mean? What does he do? What interest does he have?’” said Johnson. 

Johnson, who has written a book about the royal family, said the group discussed imagery reflecting the King’s connection to environmentalism, his role as commander-in-chief, and a potential tribute to Vimy Ridge.

Several of those ideas made the final note. King Charles III is featured on one side alongside 13 flowers representing the provinces and territories, while the Vimy Ridge Memorial and a cascade of poppies appear on the reverse.

Johnson and his fellow committee members attended the bill’s official unveiling in September to see their recommendations brought to life.

“To see the bill and to see the Vimy Memorial in the vertical, it was just spectacular,” Johnson said.

He says it feels emotional knowing that he played a small part in Canadian history. 

“It was quite the honour to be part of this and to be thinking that at some point when I get a new $20 in my hand for the first time, it’ll be quite something that I had a little role to play,” said Johnson. 

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