Final 5 candidates for next Canadian woman on banknote revealed by Bank of Canada

Poet E. Pauline Johnson and athlete Fanny (Bobbie) Rosenfeld are among five women on the short list to be chosen as the iconic Canadian woman to be featured on the next series of banknotes, the Bank of Canada said Thursday.

The final selectionand the denomination of the bill on which she will appearis to be announced onDec. 8 byFinance Minister BillMorneauand Bank of Canada governor StephenPoloz.

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The new regular circulation banknote the first in aforthcoming series is expected to begin appearing in 2018.

Here is the short list of women still under consideration:

• ViolaDesmond(1914-1965): Ablack businesswoman from Nova Scotiawho famously challengedracial segregationat a film theatre in her home province.

• E. Pauline Johnson (1861-1913): A poet and writer whose performancesreflectboth English and Mohawk traditions and whois recognized as helping to shapeCanadian literature.

• Elizabeth (Elsie)MacGill(1905-1980): The world's first female aircraft designer. She worked as an aeronautical engineer during the Second World War.

• Fanny (Bobbie)Rosenfeld(1905-1969): AnOlympian whowon gold in the relay race and silver in the 100 metre dash at the 1928 summer Olympics.

• IdolaSaint-Jean (1880-1945): AQuebec journalist, educator and feminist who fought for the women's vote in Quebec.

The five women were selected by independentadvisory council from a list of 12 names, which were drawn from 461 eligible nominees submitted by Canadians.

"The advisory council had the difficult task of selecting only five outstanding Canadian women from a vast field of strong choices, and I commend the members for their excellent work," Poloz said in a release.

"I am also delighted that this entire process encouraged a meaningful conversation among Canadians about the many exceptional women who have shaped our country."

The selected personwill not be the first Canadian femaleto appear on a banknote.The Famous 5 Emily Murphy,Irene Marryat Parlby,Nellie Mooney McClung,Louise Crummy McKinneyandHenrietta Muir Edwards who fought for women's rights in Canada, and Thrse Casgrain, a Quebec feminist, were featured on the back of the $50 bill between 2004 and 2012.