Canadian Tire Money (CTM)

Canadian Tire "money" (CTM) is a loyalty program by Canadian Tire. It consists of coupons, issued by the company, which resemble real currency (although the coupons are considerably smaller than Bank of Canada notes), and can be used as scrip in Canadian Tire stores, but is not considered a private currency.

Canadian Tire 'Money' can be used anytime, for any item purchased at a Canadian Tire Associate Store, and it can be combined with other discounts on items. You can use your Canadian Tire 'Money'™ to pay for your entire purchase, or just a portion of the total price. Redeem it immediately or save it up for that special something you've been wanting to buy.

In 1961, the next generation of Canadian Tire 'Money' was introduced. This marked the birth of a well-known Scotsman, Sandy McTire, a character that became synonymous with Canadian Tire's emphasis on savings and value. The coupons were printed on genuine bank note paper by the British American Bank Note Company (the same company that printed Canadian currency at the time). The coupons were made from authentic bank note paper, with the same rag content and spot marks as paper currency. Because the coupons felt like real money, people were, and still are, reluctant to throw them away.

Today, the new design of Canadian Tire 'Money' incorporates the latest anti-counterfeiting technology. Special watermarked paper is used in the printing so that, when held up to the light, a white outline of the Canadian Tire triangle is visible through the paper. Raised lettering on the face of the bill, a maple leaf image, and anti-copier tints are used to create the background patterns. A latent image of a maple leaf is positioned to the right of Sandy McTire's left ear-but it can only be seen by tilting the bill at eye level.


5 cent, 1989