When the Bank of Canada began releasing polymer bills in 2011, the only women from Canadian history to have appeared on Canadian bank notes were replaced by an icebreaker. Images of the Alberta women know as the Famous 5, as well as the renowned activist Thérèse Casgrain, had previously appeared on the back of the $50 bill.

In July 2013, historian and author Merna Forster began a petition calling on the Bank of Canada and the Minister of Finance (who approves bank note designs) to celebrate female Canadian historical figures on Canadian bank notes.

• Petition: Add women from Canadian history to Canadian bank notes, English version
  
  
• Petition: Incluez les figures féminines de notre histoire sur les billets de banque , French Version
  
  
• Which Canadian women would you like to see on bank notes? - interactive tool
  
  
  
  Proposed note honouring Demasduit, one of the last Beothuks.
  
  
  
  Proposed note featuring Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of Anne of Green Gables series.
  
  
• Reasons for Signing Petition - some great quotes!
  
  
• Letter to Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz from Merna Forster, 12 February 2015
  
  
• Letter to Merna Forster from Bank of Canada Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn A. Wilkins, 24 March 2015
  
  
• Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau from Merna Forster, 30 November 2015
  
  
• Letter to Patty Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women, from Merna Forster, 30 November 2015