A Canadian $10 bill featuring Viola Desmond, a Nova Scotia businesswoman and civil rights pioneer has won 'Bank Note of the Year Award' for 2018 at an international competition. The note won the award beating Mexico's 500-peso note, Russia's 100-ruble note, Norway's 500-kroner note and China's 50-yuan note, among many others. Desmond is the first Canadian woman to appear on a regularly circulating banknote, an honour which has been traditionally been restricted to British royalty, such as Queen Elizabeth II. The note also features an image of Winnipeg's Canadian Museum of Human Rights, a part of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. New Rs 20 Note Funny Memes: From Aam Panna to Haldiram, Twitterati Get Innovative in Their Reactions to RBI's Latest Introduction!

In March 2018, the federal government unveiled the vertical banknote design featuring Desmond's portrait and a map of her north-end Halifax neighbourhood. The bill went into circulation in November. After winning the award, The Bank of Canada said, "Her court case was an inspiration for the pursuit of racial equality across Canada." According to the International Bank Note Society, in 2018, 150 new banknotes were released, but only 10 per cent were considered good enough to be nominated. New Rs 20 Currency Note in Greenish Yellow Colour Introduced by RBI, Know Silent Features.

Here is the Canadian note that won 'Bank Note of the Year Award':

Desmond is known for her role in Canada's civil rights movement following the incident which happened on November 8, 1946. The 32-year-old was dragged out of Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow, N.S. where she was watching a movie and jailed for sitting in the 'whites only' section. Then, black people were allowed to sit only in the balcony.

It is her fight against the system that helped end racial discrimination in Nova Scotia. In 2010, she was posthumously awarded an apology and a free pardon. Desmond is often described as Canada's Rosa Parks who had similarly refused to give up her seat on an Alabama bus. While Desmond's efforts were not highly recognised then, her legacy is now being discussed widely. Today, her name also appears on Halifax Transit harbour ferry, a Canada Post stamp, a commemorative coin and a children's book. There are also streets named after her. Canada has won Bank Note of the Year Award in the past too. In 2004, the country came second three years in a row (2011, 2012 and 2013) and came third place last year.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 02, 2019 09:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).