I hate to burst your bubble, but...

News: Registration is free here at the CPMF!

I was reading this story in the local paper, and then had a closer look at the note pictured.

I already e-mailed the guy with the sad news.   

Good eye!

Wow I guess I'm slow, it took awhile for me to figure it out but I see what you mean now, this is the wrong signature for fifty years ago.

 There would be a better chance of it being a devil's face note or at least a Beattie / Coyne signed note.

So whats so bad about it?

I don't see anything wrong!

The accident of the Second Narrows Bridge occurred in 1958.  The $2 Note is a 1954 series issue; however, it's signed Lawson and Bouey.  Those notes could have never been around back in 1958 because Lawson and Bouey were appointed to the Bank of Canada on February 1st, 1973.   As Gary T. mentioned, the signatures should have been Beattie and Coyne 1954 $2 notes.   

http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/about/council.html

So is this a different bill?

Well, it's definitely not the bill he received in 1958.  In the article he said that he had to do some rummaging around in his house to find it.  I guess he found this one and thought it was the other one.  Perhaps he still has the real one stashed away somewhere and will find it with a little more rummaging.

The man in the story wrote back to me today, thanking me for the info.  He thinks he still has the bill he received in 1958 stashed away somewhere and will look for it.