The first paper money issued in Canada denominated in dollars were British Army notes between 1813-1815 in denominations between $1-400. These were emergency issues due to the War of 1812. The first banknotes were issued in 1817 by the Montreal Capital Bank. Since 1944 the Bank of Canada has been the sole issuer of banknotes denominated in Canadian dollars. Early banknotes were printed on paper composed of pure cotton. In November 2011 synthetic polymer banknotes were introduced.
Blue in colour, Sir Wilfred Laurier - Canada's seventh Prime Minister from 1896-1911; on the reverse, the current series features the Canadarm.