Terry Fox the top choice for new $5 bill, says survey

Terry Fox appears to be the favourite among eight Canadians on a short list to appear on the next $5 bill.

According to a survey released on Wednesday, 57% of respondents would choose the Marathon of Hope icon to replace Sir Wilfrid Laurier on the banknote.

Fox finished as the top choice in every region of the country, however, several other candidates also found support.

Drum roll, please 🥁🥁🥁 — it’s time to meet the short list of eight #bankNOTEable Canadians whose portrait could appear on the next $5 note: https://t.co/bEoMfytfYo

— Bank of Canada (@bankofcanada) November 9, 2020

Famed Indigenous soldier Binaaswi (Francis Pegahmagabow) is chosen by one-in-five (21%), including one-quarter of residents in Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Atlantic Canada.

Chief Crowfoot (Isapo-muxika), an integral part of Treaty 7 negotiations in Alberta, was also chosen by one-in-five (19%).

Residents in Quebec (34%) and young women across the country (27%) showed considerable support for Robertine Barry, the first French-Canadian journalist and an advocate for women’s rights.

The Bank of Canada in February called for public input on selecting an "iconic Canadian" to appear on the next $5 bill, which the central bank says should begin circulating "in a few years."

Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland will make the final decision, and after that Bank of Canada designers will choose an appropriate portrait of the individual and work to visually create the note.