An 'iconic' Canadian woman will appear on the country's currency by 2018

On International Women's Day, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that an "iconic" Canadian woman will appear on the next series of bank notes, expected for release in 2018.

Through April 15, Canadians can submit their nominations on the Bank of Canada's website. To be considered, the woman must be Canadian by birth or naturalization, and known for her outstanding achievement, distinction, and leadership in any field. Fictional characters will not be considered, and the woman has to have died at least 25 years ago. After all of the nominations are in, an advisory council will sort through them, and send their recommendations on to Finance Minister Bill Morneau.

On Tuesday, Morneau said it was "high time to change," a sentiment echoed by Merna Forster, a historian who has been leading the charge to get a woman on money and called the move "long overdue." "This is an important step, and I hope we can look forward to gender equality on Canadian notes as in Sweden and Australia," she told CBC News. Trudeau did not say which denomination will receive the makeover.

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