Cape Breton Professor Played Key Role in Designing New Canadian $20 Bill

David Johnson, a retired Cape Breton University professor, played a key role in designing Canada's new $20 bill featuring King Charles III. The Bank of Canada formed a committee to choose images for the vertical note and consulted with Johnson, who has written extensively on the monarchy's role in Canada.

The seven-person thematic advisory group met with senior bank officials to discuss concepts for the bill, which would reflect King Charles III's connection to environmentalism, his role as commander-in-chief, and a potential tribute to Vimy Ridge. Several of these ideas made it onto the final note, including an image of 13 flowers representing the provinces and territories.

Johnson attended the official unveiling in September with the bill's designers and was visibly moved by seeing their recommendations come to life. The new $20 features King Charles III on one side alongside the 13 flowers, while the Vimy Ridge Memorial and a cascade of poppies appear on the reverse.