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Lots of Canadians are "Spocking Fives" in memory of Leonard Nimoy
But, in fact, the uncanny doodles started before the Star Trek legend’s passing.
HERE IS WHAT a Canadian $5 bill looks like:
The man on the note is Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who served as the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 1896 to 1911 and is credited with bringing the anglophone and francophone communities in the country together.
But what else grabs you about him? Not seeing it?
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Yes, he happens to look a little like Spock from beloved TV series Star Trek – whose well-loved actor, Leonard Nimoy, passed away this week.
But, interestingly, this isn’t just one of many responses to the Star Trek legend’s recent passing. In fact, a Facebook group dedicated to “Spocking Fives” was set up as far back as 2012 – describing the practice as “a Canadian cultural phenomenon”. Reports exist going back almost a decade, indicating that this is a long-standing Canadian tradition.
However, the sci-fi star’s passing has introduced the concept to more Canadians, leading to a spate of Spocked Fives uploaded to Twitter to commemorate Nimoy.
CBC News confirmed with Bank of Canada that it is “not illegal” to deface notes in this way, meaning Canadians (or those with a few Canadian bills floating around their wallets) can rest assured that it’s a fitting tribute for Spock.
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