Today Is The Day: There's A New Face On The $10 Bill

Earlier today in Halifax, civil rights icon Viola Desmond was honoured with a ceremony at which the $10 bill with her face on it was presented. Desmond is the first non-royal and first Black person to be on Canadian currency.

Desmond's story, which took place nearly a decade before Rosa Park's refusal to give up her seat on a bus, had been largely forgotten in Canada until a few year ago. On November 8th, 1946, Desmond  had been on a business trip when her car broke down. She had to stay the night in New Glasgow and decided to see a movie at the Roseland theatre in Nova Scotia. But she refused to give up her seat in a whites-only section when an usher insisted she move.

Today, Desmond's name graces a Halifax harbour ferry and she has also been featured on a postage stamp. 

Read more about Desmond here: https://globalnews.ca/news/4070025/10-bill-featuring-canadian-civil-right-icon-viola-desmond-unveiled/