In keeping with its principles of bank note design, the Bank of Canada sought input from Canadians during the vertical $20 note’s design process.
Bank note design process
Portrait and content selection
On May 6, 2023, at the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, the Government of Canada announced that the next $20 bank note would continue to feature a portrait of the reigning monarch.
The Minister of Finance then also confirmed that the Canadian National Vimy Memorial would remain on the back of the note.
Focus groups
As part of the vertical $20 bank note development process, the Bank conducted three rounds of focus group testing to gather the public’s input, optimize the design and inform communications approaches.
Design concept focus groups
Focus group testing of the preliminary design concept took place in January-February 2025. These focus groups aimed to assess awareness of the Bank’s plans to issue a new $20 note, gather first impressions and participants’ understanding of the various design elements.
The qualitative research captured diverse perspectives from members of the public who use cash, those who handle cash as part of their daily work, and members and veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Read the report Design Concept Testing prepared by Léger Marketing Inc.
Communications focus groups
Communications focus groups took place in October 2025. This second phase of research focused on security features and public-facing messaging to help refine communication and education materials.
Participants included members of the public who use cash and those who handle cash as part of their daily work. For those who manage or verify bank notes as part of their duties, allophones (whose first language is neither English or French) were intentionally included to reflect the diversity of the retail workforce, acknowledge common language barriers and ensure the Bank’s messages are communicated in clear and simple terms.
Read the report Security Features and Messages Testing prepared by Léger Marketing Inc.
Final check focus groups
The last phase of research was the final check focus groups, carried out in March 2026. These focus groups assessed fully manufactured proof notes and served as a final validation check of the advanced design.
Cash user and cash handler groups were asked to identify any elements that could be seen as unclear, visually ambiguous, misinterpreted or unintended. Their observations informed final refinements to the design prior to production. A review of communications messages on how to check the note’s main security feature was also undertaken.
Read the report Vertical 20 Final Check prepared by Léger Marketing Inc.