In 1946, Viola Desmond challenged racial segregation in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, after refusing to leave a “whites-only” section of a movie theatre. She was arrested and fined—not for discrimination, but for a minor tax charge. Her case helped spark Canada’s civil rights movement and showed how everyday acts of courage can lead to lasting change. Today, Viola Desmond appears on Canada’s $10 bill as a symbol of justice and strength.