banque à pitons

word see bank and piton. the 'pitons' were vouchers issued by Price-McLeod for amounts ranging from five cents to five dollars. The wages of day laborers were paid with these papers, which were only valid for goods from the company's stores. These 'pitons' were named after McLeod's baptismal name, Peter. 'From Peter to 'pitons', said Arthur Buies, is but a step; the transition is obvious. It is never the names to give that embarrass Canadians.'