To Change the World of the Heart

(Inspiration for Toronto Dollar's "Jennifer Dollar")

August 26, 1989 – April 2, 1996
Jennifer died defending her Nanny

For more information you can view a retelling in tale or in factualized form.

If you wish to print-off a copy of the poster for redistribution, you can view the PDF.

Disclaimer: This story retells a disturbing real-life occurence. It is not meant for younger or more sensitive readers. If you are going to read and discuss it as a family, we strongly suggest parents properly prepare the discussion and paraphrase the material as necessary. we offer the retelling both to honour Jennifer and her grandfather for their efforts to bring about a better world.

Once upon a time, not so long ago, there was a beautiful city where a beautiful little girl lived. She was a very special child, as all children are, but her specialness was because she was loved in an extraordinary and powerful way.

This is a true story about a real child. Her name was Jennifer Kateryna. She was just six years old when, on the last day of her life, she heard her Nanny crying out, “Help me! Help me!”

Jennifer ran to see what no little child should ever have to see. Her father, whom she loved, had become a wild man. He had a knife. He was attacking her Nanny.

What could this little girl do? She could run away and hide. She could try to find someone to come and help. She could call the police.

Jennifer flew to help the old woman. She flung herself between her father and her Nanny. Her father, because he didn’t understand what he was doing, turned on his child. Over and over, he stabbed her with the knife. Her last words were a cry, “Daddy, I love you.”

This is not the end of this sad and true and terrible story. It is the beginning of Jennifer’s life as an angel. Her grandfather, Maryan, whose love for this special child knows no end, went every day to her grave to talk with her. He took a maple leaf with him, because she loved maples leaves.

One day Jennifer said to him, “Grandpa, you must change the world of the heart.”

“Yes, I will,” he said. But first, he wanted to give her a few presents. He knew that she loved the earth, the flowers and trees, the birds of the sky, the fish of the sea. And she especially loved dogs, even angry dogs who were never angry with her. He had a park named after her, overlooking the lake, so that she could be near the water and the sky and the earth, so that dogs could come and be with her. He found a grand cathedral in Toronto and had a plaque placed there with a maple leaf and the words, “Born a child – Died a heroine” He arranged to have a Star of Courage given to her by Canada’s Governor General.

“Now Grandpa,” said Jennifer, “we must work together to help other children so they will not have to be hungry and sad.”

So Jennifer’s grandfather went to the people who work with Toronto Dollars. “Please put Jennifer’s face on the Toronto Dollar,” he asked, explaining Jennifer’s wishes.

“Yes,” the people said, “we will help Jennifer to help other children.”

Today, they are working together in this special city, in a special corner of this special city, called the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood. There, in the old St. Lawrence Market where people still come and go as they did years ago, Jennifer and her grandfather are working every Saturday, telling people how to change the world of the heart.

“Imagine this,” they say. “Imagine that there is not enough money for children’s food, for children to pay for dance classes, for art classes. Now imagine that a genie comes and changes that. Imagine that, like a dead tree growing leaves again, the genie is able to bring happiness to children. Even if you don’t have a dollar to give away to a child, you can still help. When you exchange your Canadian dollar for a Jennifer Dollar, you can buy whatever you need to at any place that uses Toronto Dollars. At the same time, you are able to help a child because part of your Canadian dollar goes to someone who needs help.”

Every person who uses Toronto Dollars is part of the genie, and part of one small angel’s work to change the world of the heart.