OTTAWA, March 21, 2012 /CNW/ - The Bank of Canada will begin circulating the new $50 bill - the first of the polymer bank note series that will be available in automated banking machines - on Monday, 26 March 2012.
A ceremony to officially issue the new $50 note, which highlights Canada's commitment to Arctic research and the development and protection of northern communities, will be held at the Canadian Coast Guard's Québec port facility, and will feature the CCGS Amundsen - the Arctic research vessel depicted on the back of the new bill.
Speaking at the event will be Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of Canada; Shelly Glover, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance; Marc Grégoire, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard; and Louis Fortier, Scientific Director of ArcticNet.
Audio and video webcasts of the event will be available on the Bank's website http://www.bankofcanada.ca/media-room/webcasts). At the conclusion of the event, members of the media will have an opportunity to meet with experts to find out more about the various features of the new bill, participate in a tour of the CCGS Amundsen and purchase new $50 polymer bank notes.
| Time: |
At 13:00 (Eastern Time), journalists, press photographers and TV crews are invited to attend the issue event in the Canadian Coast Guard's facility, located at 101 Champlain Boulevard, Québec, Quebec. Please be sure to have your press accreditation with you. |
| Note: This event is a photo opportunity only; no Q&A period with Governor Carney is scheduled. | |
| Webcast: |
Audio and video webcasts of the event will be accessible from the Bank's website. (http://www.bankofcanada.ca/media-room/webcasts) |
| Distribution: | A press release will be available at 13:00 (ET) on the Bank's website. http://www.bankofcanada.ca) |
| Photo Op: | At 13:20 p.m. (Eastern Time), Governor Carney will present CCG Commissioner Grégoire with a memento of the $50 polymer note. Following this presentation, a second photo op will be held with Governor Carney, Parliamentary Secretary Glover, CCG Commissioner Grégoire and Professor Fortier in front of the CCGS Amundsen (weather permitting). |
| Information Kiosks: |
Kiosks will be open for journalists to visit and ask questions. |
| Tour: | At 14:30 (Eastern Time), journalists will be invited to take a guided tour of the CCGS Amundsen. Please note that you must wear appropriate winter footwear and clothing to participate in the tour of the vessel. |
| Note Exchange: | The new $50 note will be available on-site for purchase by members of the media. Only cash purchases will be accepted. There will be no provisions for debit or credit card transactions. |
| Note to Editors: | Journalists will be provided with a media kit that will include high-resolution images, an official press release and other relevant information. Video B-roll will also be available. Please note that B-roll may also be downloaded at the following site: http://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/materials-download-order/media/. |
| Regional Events: | In addition to the national issue ceremony, a series of regional media events will take place on Monday, 26 March. Bank of Canada Senior Regional Representatives across the country will have samples of the new $50 note and will be available to answer questions. |
| BC/Yukon Region: |
At 10:15 (Pacific Time), media are invited to attend an event at the Canadian Coast Guard Base, 25 Huron Street, Victoria, BC. |
| Prairies Region: | At 12:15 (Central Time), media are invited to attend an event at the Sea-ice Environmental Research Facility (SERF), University of Manitoba, Fort Garry Campus, 30 Service Road 2 St. SW, Winnipeg, MB. |
| Ontario Region: | At 13:15 (Eastern Time), media are invited to attend an event at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Boat Shop, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, ON. |
| Atlantic Region: | At 14:15 (Atlantic Time), media are invited to attend an event at the Canadian Coast Guard College, 1190 Westmount Road, Sydney, NS. |
| Background: | On the Polymer series |
| On 14 November 2011, the Bank of Canada issued its first polymer bank note - the $100 bill - which celebrates Canadian medical innovation. Both the $100 and $50 notes were unveiled in June 2011. | |
| The $20 note will be unveiled and issued later this year, with the remaining denominations - the $10 and $5 notes - to be unveiled and issued by the end of 2013. Further details regarding timelines for the unveiling and issuance of these notes will be made available in the coming months. |
Jeremy Harrison
613 782-8782
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