At 13:00 (ET), journalists, press photographers and TV crews are invited to attend the issue event in the MaRS Centre Atrium, located at 101 College Street, Toronto, Ontario. 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.

A press release and additional background information will be available at 13:00 (ET) on the Bank's website.

Audio and video webcasts of the event will be accessible from the Bank's website.

Photo Op: At 13:20 p.m. (ET), a photo opportunity with the Governor and Dr. Treurnicht signing a presentation $100 polymer bank note will take place at the desk of Sir Frederick Banting, who is recognized as a co-discoverer of insulin as a treatment for diabetes.

Information Kiosks: At 13:30 (ET), kiosks will be open for journalists to visit and ask questions.

Tour: At 14:00 (ET), journalists will be invited to take a guided tour of the MaRS Centre.

Note Exchange: The new $100 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 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.

Regional Events: In addition to the national issue ceremony, a series of regional media events will take place on Monday, 14 November. Bank of Canada Senior Regional Representatives across the country will have examples of the new $100 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 University of British Columbia’s Life Sciences Institute, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Prairies Region: At 12:30 (Central Standard Time), media are invited to attend an event at the University of Saskatchewan’s International Vaccine Centre, 120 Veterinary Road, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Quebec Region: At 13:15 (Eastern Time), media are invited to attend an event at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, 110 avenue des Pins Ouest, Montréal, Quebec.

Atlantic Region: At 14:15 (Atlantic Time), media are invited to attend an event at the Dalhousie University Life Sciences Research Institute, 1344 Summer Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Background:

On the issue date
Since 1991, 14 November has been designated World Diabetes Day by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization − a fitting date on which to issue a new Canadian bank note celebrating medical innovation, given that Canadians played a key role in the discovery of insulin as a treatment for diabetes.

On the venue
MaRS is an urban innovation hub that enables collaboration between the technology, social purpose, scientific and business communities to accelerate the innovation process and amplify the economic and social impact of new ideas and discoveries – an ideal venue for the issue of a note celebrating Canadian medical innovation.

On the Polymer series
On 20 June 2011, the Bank of Canada announced that it would be putting the new $100 note into circulation in November 2011 and the new $50 bill in March of 2012.

The period between the June unveiling and the actual issue date provides the Bank of Canada with a further opportunity to work with its partners in the financial and retail sectors and law enforcement to prepare Canadians for the new polymer notes.

The remaining denominations − the $20 note, followed by the $10 and $5 notes − will 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.