History

• August 6, 2024

  Treaties, money and art

  By: Krista Broeckx, Frank Shebageget

  
  

  

  The Bank of Canada Museum’s collection has a new addition: an artwork called Free Ride by Frank Shebageget. But why would a museum about the economy buy art?

  Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Arts, History
• July 16, 2024

  Rai: big money

  By: Graham Iddon

  
  

  

  An item is said to have cultural value when it can be directly associated with the history, people, beliefs or rituals important to a society. It’s the same with a rai—its value can be greater depending upon who authorized it, who carved it and who subsequently owned it.

  Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Economy, Geography, History Grade level(s): Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5 and CEGEP
• April 18, 2024

  Lessons from the Great Depression

  By: Graham Iddon

  
  

  

  What the stock market crash of 1929 did was starkly reveal the weaknesses of economic systems that had evolved from the unregulated capitalism of the late 19th century.

  Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Financial literacy, History Grade level(s): Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5 and CEGEP
• July 31, 2023

  The Scenes of Canada series $100 bill

  By: Graham Iddon

  
  

  

  Few of us ever get a chance to see a Scenes of Canada $100 bill. Which is a pity, because it is an example of great bank note design with even greater imagery by a master engraver.

  Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): History
• December 5, 2022

  Surprise, It's Money!

  

  Onsite program: See and touch an amazing array of objects that have served as money at one time or another.

  Content type(s): School programs Subject(s): Financial literacy, History, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 03, Grade 04, Grade 05, Grade 06, Grade 07 / Secondary 1, Grade 08 / Secondary 2
• November 18, 2022

  A bank NOTE-able Canadian

  

  Students will use the concept of historical significance to choose an iconic Canadian as a portrait subject for the Bank of Canada’s new $5 bank note.

  Content type(s): Lesson plans Subject(s): History, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 06, Grade 07 / Secondary 1, Grade 08 / Secondary 2, Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4
• November 18, 2022

  The changing face of our money

  

  Students will use a historical thinking approach to examine historical significance, continuity and change in Canadian bank notes.

  Content type(s): Lesson plans Subject(s): History, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 06, Grade 07 / Secondary 1, Grade 08 / Secondary 2, Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4
• November 18, 2022

  Design your own bank note

  

  Your students will research and choose their own iconic Canadian, theme, images and symbols to go on a new bank note.

  Content type(s): Lesson plans Subject(s): Arts, History, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 04, Grade 05, Grade 06, Grade 07 / Secondary 1, Grade 08 / Secondary 2, Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4
• November 14, 2022

  The day Winnipeg was invaded

  By: David Bergeron

  
  

  

  People on the street were randomly stopped and searched, and some were even arrested and imprisoned in an internment camp. Even German marks replaced Canadian currency in circulation—in the form of If Day propaganda notes.

  Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): History Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5 and CEGEP
• October 18, 2022

  Positive notes

  By: Krista Broeckx

  
  

  

  The imagery on the Bank of Canada’s 1935 note series depicts the country’s rich industrial history.

  Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): History