Canada Gives Its Passport A Makeover With More Natural Landscapes, Less History

The next time citizens in Canada renew their passports, they’ll be able to get their hands on a redesigned version of the document—said to be 10 years in the making—that features more of the country’s nature and fewer historical moments or landmarks.

Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Sean Fraser explained that the updated look drew inspiration from public feedback on what represents the nation, aiming to celebrate its diversity, inclusiveness, and picturesque natural environment.

For the unfamiliar, the country’s current passport design spotlights images of notable individuals and monuments, including the Parliament’s Centre Block, the Stanley Cup, Nellie McClung, and Terry Fox.

In the new booklet, images of bears, narwhals, and owls will take the place of people, while buildings will be replaced by scenes of residents spending time in the great outdoors, such as a group of children jumping into a lake.

The cover wasn’t left out either, with the designers adding a large maple leaf to join the coat of arms that has appeared on previous passports. In terms of safety, the new booklet boasts state-of-the-art security features that will keep Canadians’ identities better protected.

For example, it will feature a polycarbonate data page, a technology already used in the country’s driver’s licenses, which embeds a microcontroller chip into the body of the page. In addition, holders’ information will now be laser engraved instead of printed for greater durability.

[via CBC and Reuters, images via Government of Canada]