I started searching for them at 8 this morning. None of the main branches on Bay St. had them.
Decided to go to class, then realized the MaRS centre was just down the street. Saw the BoC had all their stuff setup, and decided to try my luck at the RBC branch there. They told me they had them, but would only release them after the official ceremony. So I went and grabbed lunch, and went back to the MaRS centre to watch the ceremony. Got a pretty decent view even though I didn't have a pass. The BoC had a pretty cool stand showing the bills submerged in a variety of substances, and had shreds, as well as the notes in their recycled pellet state on show.
I saw a BoC rep with an EKZ prefix one, while the others on display were EKAs.
At 1:30, I got these from the MaRS RBC branch.
EKC8288593 FP/BP 42
EKC8384860-63 FP/BP 35
Then down the street at University/Dundas RBC:
EKC8433178-97 FP/BP 22
Scotia Plaza:
EKB1272747-48 FP/BP 27
EKB1416501-03 FP/BP 07
EKB1432813 FP/BP 09
Royal Bank Plaza:
EKC8576404 FP/BP 02
Just stunning notes in person. One of the best uses of the transparent features of polymer to date IMO. It didn't take a banknote geek like me to get giddy over them, my friends and colleagues who I showed it to shared the same kind of excitement seeing them for the first time. I also spent one at dinner and for the first time, I've actually seen a cashier happy to take a $100 bill!
EDIT: On a side note, I wonder how the grading standards for this bill will be. All of the notes in my possession have some kind of scratches or scuffs on the holographic part of the plastic.