Five other honours inspired by Viola Desmond’s actions

Nova Scotia civil rights activist Viola Desmond will be the first woman on the front of a Canadian banknote, but it isn’t her only honour. On Nov. 8, 1946, Desmond sat in a whites-only section at the Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow. After refusing to leave, she was forcibly removed and spent the night in jail. Here are five other things she has inspired: 1. The very first Nova Scotia Heritage Day on Feb. 16, 2015 was named after Desmond. 2. Groundwood Books published an illustrated children’s book titled “Viola Desmond Won’t Be Budged” in 2010. 3. A Halifax Transit ferry named after Desmond was launched earlier this year. 4. In 2012, Canada Post issued a commemorative stamp featuring Desmond. 5. Canadian social activist and singer-songwriter Faith Nolan wrote a song named after and about Desmond.