The Bank of Canada makes bank notes that Canadians can use

with confidence and pride.

Let’s take a quick look at how these notes are produced,

distributed and given a second life.

Production begins as soon as a design is approved.

First, the Bank obtains sheets of a durable polymer substrate

specifically made for our bank notes.

Security features, like the hologram, are applied onto these sheets

to make the notes hard to counterfeit.

Next comes the printing.

A colourful background is printed on the material.

Then, special inks are applied using deeply engraved plates

and a printer that exerts high pressure.

This gives the notes, especially the portraits,

their characteristic texture and fine detail.

Notes are printed in sheets of 45 and then cut into individual bills.

Each note is examined by an automated visual inspection system

before it’s approved for circulation.

Some bills also go through extensive lab testing

to make sure all our batches are of the highest quality.

Shipments of notes are then sent to distribution centres across the country,

where financial institutions can order the cash they need for their clients.

When bills become worn or damaged, financial institutions return them

to the Bank of Canada, where they are shredded.

This shred is sent to a company that transforms it into useful products

like this park bench.

You may have enjoyed the benefits of recycled bank notes

without even knowing it!