The Bank of Canada today put into circulation Canada’s new $20 bank notes. The new notes will be distributed and become available across the country over the next few weeks.

“The $20 bank note is the most widely used note,” said Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge, in a news release. “It accounts for almost half of all bank notes in circulation, which is why we encourage Canadians to become familiar with its design and security features. The security features of this new note enable Canadians to use it with confidence.”

The central bank says it is issuing the new note to help fight counterfeiting. The note incorporates several new anti-counterfeiting features. These include: a metallic holographic stripe, a watermark portrait, a windowed colour-shifting thread woven into the paper, and a see-through number. These features are similar to those on the recently issued $100 note.

The theme of this new note is Arts and Culture. Images of four artworks by internationally recognized Canadian artist Bill Reid, as well as an excerpt from Gabrielle Roy’s novel The Hidden Mountain, appear on the back of the note.

Since the unveiling of the new $20 bank note on 25 August, the Bank of Canada has been working with law-enforcement agencies, financial institutions, and the retail and hospitality industries to familiarize their employees with the note’s security features.

“Everyone has a role to play in deterring counterfeiting,” said Raymond J. Protti, president and CEO of the Canadian Bankers Association. “The banking industry handles large volumes of cash and takes steps to detect counterfeit notes and remove them from circulation. The enhanced security features of this new note demonstrate how the Bank of Canada seeks to reduce counterfeiting by making currency more difficult to duplicate, and the banking industry applauds its efforts to do so.”

he Bank of Canada will unveil a new $50 bill on Oct. 13 and will put the bills into circulation beginning on Nov. 17.

A redesigned $10 bank note is planned for release in 2005.