In keeping with its principles of bank note design, the Bank sought broad input from Canadians on the design of this commemorative note.
The Bank undertook formal public opinion research and consultation, and provided Canadians the opportunity to comment directly via its website. It also conducted two rounds of routine focus group testing.
This brief overview summarizes the highlights of these consultation results, and provides links to the full reports prepared by the external market research firms who undertook these consultations on behalf of the Bank.
Please note: Although the summaries are available in both English and French, the full reports are available only in English. Full French reports can be prepared upon request. Please for more information.
Literature review
This report was commissioned by the Bank in the fall of 2014 and created by Ipsos Reid to summarize findings from existing studies and literature that deal with the Canadian identity. This was done to inform the research and consultation approach, prior to surveying Canadians. It can be viewed as a complementary document.
Read the key findings prepared by Ipsos Reid.
Read the full report Literature Review in View of the Bank of Canada’s Planned Bank Note to Commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Confederation prepared by Ipsos Reid.
Surveys and open call questionnaire
The Bank’s initial research study consisted primarily of two nationally-representative surveys and an open call questionnaire to encourage the public to provide suggestions.
Surveys
Ipsos Reid carried out nationally-representative surveys on behalf of the Bank in two waves:
The first survey (Wave 1) – an online survey among 1,707 Ipsos Reid Canadian Household Panelists, conducted between 14 November and 25 November 2014, consisted primarily of open-ended questions looking for broad themes to inform the next phase of research and consultation.
The key themes that emerged were: Canada’s land and landscapes, Celebrate Confederation, Multiculturalism and diversity, History and heritage, Democracy, equality and rights, Sporting achievements and hockey, Remembrance, Canadian Armed Forces and peacekeeping, Aboriginal traditions and culture, Science and artistic achievements, and Canada’s built heritage.
The second survey (Wave 2) – an online survey among 2,007 Ipsos Canadian Household Panelists, conducted between 29 December 2014 and 6 January 2015, consisted primarily of close-ended questions ranking the themes proposed in Wave 1 and expanding on possible symbols to include on the new bank note. Similar to the Wave 1 results, Canada’s land and landscapes was the most popular theme. It was followed by History and heritage and Celebrate Confederation.
Open call questionnaire
An online questionnaire was made available to the public between 5 December 2014 and 8 January 2015, to allow Canadians to suggest themes or subjects for the Canada 150 bank note. Hosted by Ipsos Reid and accessed via the Bank’s website, this questionnaire included open-ended questions looking for broad themes and ideas to inform the design of the new note (as in the Wave 1 survey). Input was collected from over 1,400 submissions, and the overall results were similar to the representative survey, but the ranking of themes differed.
Read the executive summary (for Wave 1, Wave 2 and the Open Call Questionnaire) prepared by Ipsos Reid.
Read the full report Canada’s 150th Commemorative Bank Note Research prepared by Ipsos Reid.
Focus group testing
The Bank also conducted two rounds of focus group testing. The first (July 2015) gathered initial impressions on some preliminary design concepts. Two design options for the front and the back of the note were tested and perceived by the participants to be suitable for a commemorative note.
Read the executive summary (preliminary design concepts) prepared by Pollara Strategic Insights.
Read the full report Commemorative Bank Note Design Concepts: Qualitative Research prepared by Pollara Strategic Insights.
A second round of focus group testing was carried out as a final check before note printing began (August 2016). The objective was to test the chosen design concept and identify anything that could be perceived as an error. Participants did not note any unintentional errors in the design. Participants also noted what stood out: the inclusion of four portraits, the colour-shifting arch, the large window and its metallic features, the colours of the note, and the landscapes representing the different regions of Canada.
Read the executive summary (final check) prepared by Pollara Strategic Insights.
Read the full report Canada 150 Commemorative Bank Note Design: Final Check Focus Groups Qualitative Research prepared by Pollara Strategic Insights.
The Bank also held informal design workshops with youth, the blind and partially-sighted community, and consulted many subject matter experts during the bank note development process.
Awareness surveys
The Bank conducted three waves of nationally-representative online surveys to measure awareness and impressions of the Canada 150 bank note among Canadians.
The first wave surveyed 2,014 participants to establish a benchmark level of awareness prior to the public unveiling of the Canada 150 note. It was conducted in September 2016.
The second wave was conducted with 2,006 participants after the note had been officially unveiled in April 2017. The third wave was conducted with 2,029 participants in July 2017 after the note was issued into circulation.
Over half of Canadians surveyed were aware of the Canada 150 bank note by the third wave in July 2017. Overall, the note design resonated well with participants.
Read the executive summary prepared by Pollara Strategic Insights.
Read the full Canada 150 Commemorative Bank Note Research Report prepared by Pollara Strategic Insights.
Please note: Although the summaries are available in both English and French, the full report is available only in English. A full French report can be prepared upon request. Please for more information.