2013 Canada Stamp Issues

Issued: Jan. 8, 2013

Article published in
Canada's Stamp Details (Vol. XXI No 4; October to December 2012)

In Western culture, calling someone a snake is considered fighting words. But in the Asian countries that celebrate the Lunar New Year, the Snake is viewed as the wisest and most enigmatic of all the zodiac creatures. In fact, it’s such a strong sign of intelligence and luck that an ancient Chinese saying notes that finding a snake in one’s home is great fortune and ensures that the inhabitants will never go hungry.

The Year of the Snake, in this case a water snake, slithers in on February 10, 2013, and bids farewell on January 30, 2014. The sixth of 12 creatures in the zodiac, the Snake represents intelligence, materialism and gracefulness. Those born in the Year of the Snake are analytical and tend to look closely before they leap. They love luxury and know how to get what they want. Even if it means scheming and plotting, clever and cunning snakes know that the end justifies whatever means necessary. Still, the Snake requires peace; noise and stress are not well tolerated. The hard-working and ambitious Snake is successful in professional life, but tends to hop jobs, becoming easily bored if not sufficiently challenged or rewarded.

The duo stamp issue (Permanent™ domestic and International) for the Year of the Snake, the fifth in this series, is created in lavish textures befitting the luxury-loving Snake. On the domestic stamp, a red snake slithers on curving waves, symbolizing the water influence on this particular Year of the Snake. On the international stamp, a yellow and green jade snake, artfully embossed on multiple levels to provide three-dimensionality and simulate scales, coils into a stylized 8, the luckiest and most valued number by the Chinese people. Both images visually draw on the most significant character attributes of the Year of the Snake.

For designers Joe Gault and Avi Dunkelman of MIX Design Group in Toronto, and calligrapher Tan Chao Chang, the snake was originally conceived as a three-dimensional object, so it was essential that this dimensionality be present within the stamp. According to Dunkelman, the design team spent months consulting a number of experts in Chinese culture, including curators at the Royal Ontario Museum, and tested designs on his financial planner and Joe Gault’s dentist, who are both of Chinese origin. “There’s always a concern of creating something that might work graphically, but offend Chinese Canadians.”
Technically, the design team was allowed to use two finishes, gold foil and embossing. In addition to the right lighting, the right shadows in the flat image, these finishes were used to create a three-dimensional effect of the snake slithering through the water. Incorporating the water element graphically, through the circles and waves – and then selecting areas of the snake for foiling enhanced the 3D effect. Dunkelman adds, “The passion for this project and the openness to experiment – from Stamp Design Manager Alain Leduc, Gravure Choquet (foil stamping and embossing) and Lowe-Martin (printing) – is what made this stamp issue what it is.”

Says Leduc, “We hope that we have met the challenge of continuing to surprise the collector and the mailer with this annual issue. This design, combined with the multi-level embossing technique, has achieved the best three-dimensional effect possible on stamp paper. The illusion of the snake floating on the water is, I think, stunning.”

Issued: Jan. 14, 2013

Article published in
Canada's Stamp Details (Vol. XXI No 4; October to December 2012)

In 1953, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II became the first of Canada’s sovereigns to be separately proclaimed as Queen of Canada. This definitive stamp issue coincides with 60 years since the Royal Style and Titles Act passed by the Canadian government established the Royal Style and Titles for Canada as “Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.”

The stamp issue focuses on Her Majesty’s role as Queen of Canada and incorporates a close-cropped photograph taken during the 2010 Royal Tour set against a subtle maple leaf background.
“We chose the subtle gold maple leaf pattern to bring Canada to the stamp without overwhelming Her Majesty’s photograph,” explains designer Doreen Colonello, adding that a great photo of the Queen is the key to designing a great stamp.

“Above all, Her Majesty’s photo reflects her kindness and honest engagement with people.”

The photo was taken on June 28, during the 2010 Royal Tour stop at the Halifax Common where Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited the Mi’kmaq Cultural Village for celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of the baptism of Mi’kmaq Grand Chief Membertou. While there, Her Majesty spoke about the enduring close relationship between the Crown and the Aboriginal peoples of Canada. Other activities that day included the Official Arrival Ceremony, which featured a 21-gun salute, a Snowbirds fly-past and cultural presentations from renowned Nova Scotian and Acadian performing artists.

Issued: Feb. 1, 2013

Article published in
Canada's Stamp Details (Vol. XXI No 4; October to December 2012)

Born in Montréal’s Little Burgundy neighbourhood in 1934, to Barbadian parents, Oliver Jones put on his first show at the age of five. By age eight, he was taking formal music lessons – from Daisy Peterson no less, sister of famed pianist Oscar Peterson. By his early twenties, Jones was a musician for hire. After travelling to Puerto Rico to play in the Kenny Hamilton Review and the Oliver Jones Quartet – a gig he continued for 16 years – he returned to Montréal in 1980, and in 1983, released his first jazz album, The Oliver Jones Trio.

Since then, Jones has toured the world, produced more albums and won many awards, including five Junos, four honorary doctorates, and the Ordre national du Québec. In 1994, he was invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada.
“Over the years I have been the very fortunate recipient of numerous awards and accolades,” explains Jones. “I thought I had achieved everything that I set out to do. When I was contacted by Canada Post I could not believe that I was chosen for this great honour – I am so proud, and to be part of the Black History series is especially thrilling.”

Designer Lara Minja explains the two images on the stamp: “The animated photograph of Jones laughing contains within it a more recent and subdued image of him at the piano, balancing the earlier days of his career with his current performances. The two photographs also illustrate Jones as both an individual and a performer. The first reflects his early career, while the second pays homage to the longevity and enduring popularity of his music.”
Seraphim “Joe” Fortes arrived in Vancouver from his native Trinidad and Tobago in 1885. Enamoured with the many beautiful swimming locations, he decided to stay, eventually moving into a tent on his favourite beach at English Bay. While there, he taught both adults and children to swim and appointed himself voluntary patrolman, chaperoning couples and chasing away hooligans.

In 1894, the city formalized Fortes’ volunteer work, making him an official lifeguard. Fortes excelled at the job, reputedly saving many lives. In 1901, he was made an official swimming instructor, receiving pay for the summer months. Fortes became such a beloved citizen that, in 1910, a private committee awarded him a gold watch and a locket – both of which he is wearing in the photograph on the back of the stamp booklet – as well as a cheque for $472.
When Fortes passed away in 1922, Vancouverites were stricken with grief. The city paid for a public funeral, which thousands attended. In 1927, citizens raised money to install a fountain at English Bay in Fortes’ honour. The inscription reads “Little children love him.”

“My overall intention, explains Minja, was to bring life to the character of Joe Fortes, showing him as a strong and personable man, who was caring, responsible, fun-loving, and honourable.”

Fortes is shown on the stamp in his swimming apparel as many would remember him, against a background of the beach he loved so dearly. Minja notes that “it was important to show him in context, standing in the forefront of the stamp with English Bay, circa 1919, well-protected, so to speak, behind him.”

Issued: March 4, 2013

Article published in
Canada's Stamp Details (Vol. XXI No 4; October to December 2012)

Is it the shyly opening cup of velvety petals? Or the intoxicating fragrance prized by luxury perfumers? For whatever reason, there’s something romantic and irresistibly exotic about magnolias.

While the very name of the flower can still conjure up visions of the South, complete with mint juleps and hoop-skirted belles, magnolias, originating in East and Southeast Asia, have adapted to climates in North America, Central America, the West Indies and South America. Hardy varieties, such as ‘Yellow Bird’ and ‘Eskimo’ featured on our stamps, and ‘Leonard Messel’ depicted on the Official First Day Cover, have been developed by hybridists to thrive in Canada’s cold winters and short summers.

Life before bees
Named after French botanist Pierre Magnol, the Magnolia genus comprises more than 200 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae, part of the Magnoliaceae family. What’s truly fascinating about the magnolia is that it may be one of the oldest flowering plants on earth. Magnolia fossils believed to date back more than 20 million years have been found, and there is evidence that some plants of the Magnoliaceae family may have existed up to 95 million years ago. This delicate flower is so ancient, it evolved before bees existed, and botanists believe that the flowers were originally pollinated by beetles. This is why the magnolia’s carpels are so tough; the plant needed to adapt to a beetle’s rougher, clumsier touch.

The blooms we picked
Bright and saucy ‘Yellow Bird,’ so called for its sunny yellow colour, blooms in May, making it ideal for briefer Canadian summers. Closed, it’s reminiscent of a tulip waiting to bloom. ‘Eskimo,’ with its large cup flowers in white with a hint of lavender, is so hardy it can survive a mild frost. The bush-like plants of the ‘Leonard Messel’ produce 12-petal blooms that look like pale lilac-pink stars.
According to photographer and designer Isabelle Toussaint, “During my first trip to the Experimental Farm in Ottawa in May 2011, I photographed a wide variety of the typical white and pink magnolias. But this year, we wanted to show a less known variety of flower in the stamp duo. We learned that the rarer yellow magnolias would bloom two weeks later, so I made a second trip to photograph them on a beautiful sunny day. The choice was so vast that we could pick three more hybrids for the souvenir sheet, the OFDC and the inside of the booklet.”

She adds, “Since the magnolia is a tree and the flowers extend beyond the leaves, there was a bare effect, so I chose to keep the sky in the background, on both the stamps and the other collectibles.”

Stamp Design Manager Danielle Trottier has long wanted to celebrate the magnolia as part of this stamp series. “We have featured indigenous flower varieties and hybrids developed for the Canadian climate, and magnolias fall into the latter group. But a lot of Canadians would be surprised to learn how many varieties of this southern flower can flourish here. There’s an ‘I never knew that’ moment, a sense of discovering one more thing about our country. That’s what I wanted to do with these stamps. And of course, make them beautiful too.”

Note: Magnolias are courtesy of the Central Experimental Farm, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Issued: April 9, 2013

Article published in

The Princess of Wales’ Own Regiment (PWOR), was formed in January 1863, from seven existing militia companies in Kingston, Ontario. It earned its name when the Regiment participated in celebrations for the marriage of His Royal Highness Edward, Prince of Wales. The name, made official in 1868, honoured the new Princess of Wales, formerly Princess Alexandra of Denmark. Since its foundation, members of the PWOR have served in every major conflict involving the Canadian Forces.

In 1866, the Regiment experienced its first deployment – to the Niagara Region and then to Cornwall, Ontario – to deter Fenian attacks from the United States. In 1870, volunteers from the Regiment took part in the federal force sent to quell the rebellion in what is now Manitoba, an action they would repeat in 1885, during the Northwest Rebellion.

The Regiment earned its first battle honours when, in 1899, 21 volunteers travelled to South Africa to serve in the Boer War. In 1914, the PWOR was called on again: volunteers joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force, while others filled local defensive roles including guard duty at the internment camp at Fort Henry. In Europe, members of the PWOR fought in some of the most well-known battles of the First World War. At Ypres, Passchendaele, Vimy, the Somme and Amiens, they earned individual awards for bravery as well as battle honours for the Regiment.

When the Second World War began, members of the PWOR again volunteered to fight overseas. Those who stayed behind again served by guarding Fort Henry and other important local sites. In 1940, the PWOR was asked to supply five officers, 155 men, and a signals officer to the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, also known as “the Glens.” In Europe, the Glens and their PWOR members participated in the D-Day invasion at Juno Beach. Even though the PWOR itself earned no battle honours during the Second World War, its participating members given the honourary distinction of the badge of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, recognizing their joint mobilization and service in Europe.

After the war, PWOR members served as volunteers in a number of conflicts, including Korea, and in various peacekeeping missions and, most recently, Afghanistan.

The Regiment’s crest features the motto, Nunquam Cede (Never Surrender), accompanied by the phrase Ich Dien (I Serve) and the Regiment’s initials, PWOR. The crown and feathers allude to the Regiment’s name, while the beaver represents service to Canada.

Dave Sasha of Sputnik Design, worked on the PWOR stamp along with three previous regimental stamps. For Sasha, the most important design element was the soldiers themselves.
“I wanted to bring out the faces of the soldiers to humanize them,” explains Sasha. We used illustrations based on images of real soldiers to give the stamp life.” In choosing the soldiers to represent on the stamp, Sasha tackled the next challenge: representing 150 years of service. The result was a soldier from 1890, the First World War, the Second World War and the present day to show the evolution in uniform.

“Creating a timeline – a sense of history – was very important. It has given us a connection between now and then.”

Issued: May 1, 2013

Wooden or stone gates, known as paifang in Mandarin, were originally used to separate subdivisions in Chinese cities. Eventually, these gates lost that role, and their doors, remained but as monuments. In Canada today, these gates are often the most visible representation of Chinatown in our cities, symbolic of cooperation between various levels of Canadian and Chinese governments, businesses, and citizens.

Victoria’s Gate of Harmonious Interest, built in 1981, stands in the heart of Canada’s first Chinatown. The gate blends traditional and symbolic elements and features hand-carved stone lions from Victoria’s sister city, Suzhou. One pillar commemorates Chinese Canadians who fought and died in World War II.
In Vancouver, the Millennium Gate, built in 2002, was inspired by the Inner City Gates of 19th and 20th century Beijing. It combines Eastern and Western designs to represent the past and future of the community.

The Chinese Gate in Edmonton benefited from the expertise of Chinese architects and craftsmanship from the sister city of Harbin. Built in 1987, the gate features traditional Chinese motifs, colours, decorative tiles and ornate lighting.

Founded in 1909, Winnipeg’s Chinatown is one of Canada’s older Chinese communities. The gate, built in 1987, is a pedestrian overpass that connects and complements the Dynasty and Mandarin buildings.

Located at the entrance to the Mississauga Chinese Centre, this city’s timber gate was constructed solely with traditional wooden studs. Cooperation between China and Canada is demonstrated in the government support and construction expertise that made this gate possible.

The Zhong Hua Men Archway, standing at Gerrard East and Hamilton streets in Toronto’s Chinatown East, was built thanks to many Canadian and Chinese partners. The gate honours Chinese Canadian settlers, particularly those who laboured on the transcontinental railway.

Built in 2010, the Ottawa Chinatown Gateway, featuring nine roofs, is a royal Chinese arch that can only be built in capital cities. The gate has good-luck symbols embedded within, including five Chinese coins, one of which is at least 1,000 years old.

Montréal’s Chinatown actually has four gates – North, South, East and West. The North Gate on the stamp was donated by the city of Shanghai in 1999.
To create these stamps, eight illustrators across the country took to their communities to create watercolour paintings of the gates. Stamp designer Hélène L’Heureux of Interaction/design then used these images to create unique stamps that work together as a set.

“The watercolour technique unified the stamps,” explains L’Heureux. “Differences in tones added diversity and richness to the project, making each stamp stand on its own.”

To enhance the issue, L’Heureux found the answer in traditional Chinese coins and designs.

“The souvenir sheet shape represents the coin and allows a layout of the eight illustrations around the square hole in the center,” says L’Heureux. “The concentric pattern in the souvenir sheet is inspired by traditional roof tiles, while the spiral pattern in the background of the uncut press sheet is a traditional Chinese pattern.”

Stamp Design Manager Alain Leduc added, “Using illustrations for these stamps allowed the artists to highlight what they felt was the most important angle for the gate in their community, giving each stamp a truly local feel.”

Issued: June 5, 2013

The Canadian landscape is built for motorcycles. Think of freedom and exploration. Think of where the road meets expansive prairies, jagged mountains and dense boreal forests. Think of riding into the horizon without a windshield coming between you and each new vista.

In turn, Canadians have built motorcycles for the landscape. A total of 21 different brands have travelled with riders, carried competitors across finish lines, served alongside police officers and supported soldiers overseas.

The first motorcycles, like the Lightweight Motor Cycle built by the Canadian Cycle and Motor Company (CCM), drew inspiration from the freedom afforded by early automobiles. Among the few motorcycles CCM produced, the 1908 model featured on the stamp sported a Swiss-designed engine that could be installed on any conventional bike frame.

Four years later, the Indian, represented here by the 1914 model, met with widespread commercial success. Massachusetts-based Hendee Manufacturing Co. – later known as the Indian Motorcycle Company – built the bikes at a factory on Toronto’s Mercer Street. The Indian became the bike of choice for Canadian racer “Wild Joe” Baribeau, winning him provincial and national racing championships. Impressed by the abilities of the Indian, Canadian police departments began ordering the bike for their own motorcycle corps.

Matt Warburton of Emdoubleyu Design drew on his personal passion for motorcycles to design these stamps. “I’ve been a motorcyclist all my life,” explains Warburton. “My Dad got me into motorbikes. It was my Dad’s love of motorcycles that got me interested in them as a young boy. He was incredibly excited and proud about these stamps.”

Warburton chose to keep the design simple, focusing on the motorcycle itself. “I wanted to capture the structural beauty of a motorcycle, the design of the bikes, the beauty of the shapes of the engines, body and tanks.”

The result is a stamp that highlights two views of the bike. The most prominent is the top view of the rider, the other is of the bike’s profile. The Official First Day Cover shows off even more of the profile, while the background gets up close to the engines.

However, there’s more to Warburton’s design than just the beauty of the motorcycle. He explains that motorcycles represent a broad range of interests including sports, transportation, recreation and pastime – and he wanted the design to appeal to all of them. “Motorcycles mean different things to different people, but the basic elements of an engine and two wheels are what connect every enthusiast,” he says.

In addition to the photographs of classic bikes, Warburton chose a postmark based on a famous poster from World War II. “I wanted to leave Canadians with a sense of pride in the rich history we have of Canadian-built motorcycles.”

This issue featuring the 1908 Lightweight Motor Cycle and the 1914 Indian is the first in a series dedicated to Canadian motorcycle manufacturing and design.

Issued: June 10, 2013

Article published in

In 1753, Philadelphia Postmaster Benjamin Franklin was promoted to joint deputy postmaster general for the British colonies and opened the first Canadian post office in Halifax to link the Atlantic colonies with Britain. But eventually, Franklin’s involvement with the growing revolt against the British Empire made it necessary for him to leave his post.

Hugh Finlay was confirmed as postmaster general at Québec on June 10, 1763. The ambitious Finlay arranged for a courier from Montréal to New York to reach the monthly packet sailing to Britain. By 1771, weekly service was available year round. His innovations earned a profit for the British Post Office Department, which paid Finlay a fifth of gross receipts.

In 1833, the Quebec-built Royal William was the first steamer to carry mail across the Atlantic. Canada’s first railway line was established in 1836, and became quickly recognized as a way to carry mail faster and farther. In 1840, Samuel Cunard’s new steamer Britannia transported mail between Liverpool and Halifax. Following Confederation on July 1, 1867, postal systems from Halifax to Fort William, on Lake Superior, amalgamated. And on April 1, 1868, An Act for the Regulation of the Postal Service officially created Canada’s uniform postal system.

Stamp designer Andrew Perro notes the challenge of depicting such a long, detailed history. “Realizing 250 years of Canadian postal history on a stamp is like trying to summarize it in one sentence – not easily done. Instead, the design focuses on the system’s early establishment and how it helped to shape Canada’s future.”

Issued: July 19, 2013

Article published in
Canada's Stamp Details (Vol. XXI No 4; October to December 2012)

These stamps featuring The Tragically Hip, Rush, The Guess Who and Beau Dommage are the latest in our ongoing series honouring Canadian recording artists – and the first to feature bands rather than individual performers. The commercial and critical success that these groundbreaking musicians have achieved reaches far beyond our borders.

The Tragically Hip



Five friends from Kingston, Ontario – Gordon Downie, Paul Langlois, Rob Baker, Gord Sinclair, and Johnny Fay – founded The Tragically Hip in 1984. The band’s name, chosen quickly before the first gig, was inspired by Elephant Parts, a short video by former Monkee, Michael Nesmith.

Known for energetic live performances, The Hip has established a demanding concert itinerary, touring extensively in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

The band has released 12 studio albums, two live albums, one extended play (EP) and 54 singles, and sold millions of records worldwide. Enjoying mass popularity and critical success, The Hip has received numerous awards, including 14 JUNO Awards, the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award and induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Rush



Rush has sold in excess of 40 million records worldwide, ranking third behind the Beatles and the Rolling Stones for most gold and platinum records sold by a rock band. Since releasing its debut album in 1974, the Toronto group has become one of Canada’s most successful and influential rock bands.

Proving that success doesn’t have to come at the expense of artistic innovation, Rush has won numerous JUNO Awards and international distinctions. Band members Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart were made Officers of the Order of Canada and won the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement. Recognized by the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, Rush became the first Canadian band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2013, making it part of an elite few among Canadian artists to be so honoured.

The Guess Who



The Guess Who got their start in Winnipeg in 1962 when singer and songwriter Chad Allen joined Jim Kale, Randy Bachman, Garry Peterson and Bob Ashley to form Chad Allen and the Reflections. In 1965, the band’s single “Shakin’ All Over” was released to radio stations in a plain white record jacket bearing only the words “Guess Who?”. Intended to pique curiosity, the name immediately caught on.

Following Bob Ashley’s departure, Burton Cummings joined the group. Throughout the band’s career, The Guess Who have recorded 14 top-40 hit singles, sold millions of albums, won two JUNO Awards and been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Canada’s Walk of Fame and the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame. In 2002, the band received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement. While its membership has changed over the years, the group continues to record and perform to sold-out audiences across the globe.

Beau Dommage



Pierre Bertrand, Pierre Huet, Robert Léger and Michel Rivard wrote their first songs when they were in university, performing in intimate, smoke-filled rooms or boîtes à chansons where many young Quebec singers got their start.

Mutual admiration for one another’s work led the group to join forces, and Beau Dommage was born. Named for a common or colloquial expression meaning “you bet,” the group flourished with the addition of Marie-Michèle Desrosiers, Réal Desrosiers, and later, Michel Hinton.

Beau Dommage made a strong name for itself with its self-described “folk-rock-urban” sound, rich harmonious vocals and lyrics rooted in the Québécois culture. The band’s first album, which was self-titled, sold hundreds of thousands of copies – and its second, Où est passée la noce?, achieved equal success.

Beau Dommage toured throughout Quebec and across Europe from 1975 to 1978. Although the group eventually disbanded, a strong friendship still binds its members, who reunited in 1984, 1992, 1995 and 2005.

Over the course of its existence, Beau Dommage won numerous prizes and awards, including double-platinum status, Félix trophies, and a Billet d’or recognizing strong ticket sales for its live performances. It was the first band ever to receive a medal of honour from the National Assembly of Quebec.

The stamps

Designer Louis Gagnon of Paprika drew on feedback from the groups in this series to focus on what fans recognized most about their beloved artists. The result: stamps with group shots of Beau Dommage and The Tragically Hip alongside stamps featuring the iconic logo of The Guess Who and the fan-favourite cover of Rush’s album, 2112.

Each stamp will be released individually on its own First Day Cover. For the design, Gagnon had access to press and performance shots as well as album covers. To keep everything united, he showed each group’s graphic logo and kept colour tones and textures consistent.

“The main challenge was trying to catch the mood of each band, while keeping a respectful look and feel,” explains Gagnon. The current band members were present in the development process and gave their input all the way through. That helped us balance how we saw the final result and how they wanted to be represented.”

“Although these bands have existed for over 30 years, they are still active and performing today,” he adds, “so we wanted to stay as close as possible to a timeless treatment.”

Canada Post’s Stamp Design Manager Liz Wong echoed those challenges. “Representing the incredible history of these groups in just a few images is nearly impossible. Balancing history with the present to create something classic and lasting was essential.”

“This release is really about the fans,” says Wong. “We wanted to turn the larger-than-life character of each group into something that every fan would recognize and love.”

For Gagnon, working on the series was an honour. “These names have enormous history and, along with their all-time classics, are still very influential in the rock scene,” he says. “It was very rewarding to design their stamps, considering that these will travel the world and be part of special collections.”