What’s that thing on the back of my twenty? – A look at art and culture on Canadian currency

I recently returned from a 14 month trip around Australia and S.E. Asia. Both regions have an abundance of rich cultural heritage, evident in their art. Trudging through the Vancouver Airport I noticed a piece of our own cultural heritage, a large greenish sculpture I recognized as a Haida piece. I knew I’d seen it before but I couldn’t quite place where. Later, when buying my first Double-Double since 2010 I saw it staring up at me from the back of a $20 bill. The Spirit of Haida Gwaii by Bill Reid, commissioned in 1985 for the Canadian Embassy in Washington.  Cast in bronze, the original black version was recast in a jade patina for the Vancouver Airport. That got me thinking. What other bits of Canadiana are on my money, and where are they from? The Coins The variety of indigenous species on our coins can be seen across the country, with the exception of the Polar Bear adorning our Toonies who only shows his white mug in the coldest of climates. Churchill, Manitoba or the Territories would be a great place to visit him. Growing up in Atlantic Canada, I’d always identified with the

Want to see an $11 million car?

While the Maybach might be dead, there are still many, many choices for the uber-wealthy. Case in point, the $11million Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. It’s a ruby-coated, gold-dipped, ‘Red Gold Dream’. This totally reasonable commuter vehicle is owned by Swiss jet-setter Euli Anlicker. Anlicker, in addition to having a kinda-sorta-dirty-sounding last name does the kinds of things you’d imagine a 12 year kid would do with a lot of money: he goes on crazy trips, builds gold plated cars, opens lounges with PS3s everywhere, and hangs out with models. As of now, the car is stocked with 700 horse power and is gaining ‘significant cash offers’ from prospective buyers in Asia and the Middle East. Somehow I can totally picture this red rocket ripping around on those palm tree shaped islands in Dubai. For whomever picks it up, there is a state of the art security system that includes remote disabling, satellite tracking and an alarm that will probably burst your eardrums. Now tell me, is this the car of your dreams? Or would you opt for something a little more low-key? Image from Anlicker’s site.

NEW DOLLARS FOR DEBT CONTEST: Win $500 To Pay Down Your Debt!

Do you dream of being debt free? If so… Mogo wants to help. If you’re carrying a balance on your credit card, have a payday loan or have paid a ton of money in NSF fees over the past month, then you have a chance to win $500 in Mogo’s Dollars for Debt Contest! Click here to enter! Follow the easy steps to spread the word after you enter & win another $500 in cold hard cash! The websites below feature our contest: ContestHound.ca Canada’s Sweepstakes Directory Canadian Sweepstakes and Contest Directory – free to enter contests and sweepstakes exclusively for Canadians. Sign up for the Contests for Canadians Update to enter to win prizes just for being a subscriber. http://www.contesthound.ca FreeSweepstakes and Contest As seen on CashNet Sweepstakes GJ’s Sweepstakes Crazy – Your Source for Online Sweepstakes and Contests – Detailed listings to hundreds of free sweepstakes, contests, games, and lottos you can enter on the Web.