[press release; click on pictures for larger versions]
Tradition, Santa’s magic highlight 2014 holiday stamps from Canada Post
Issue features trio of Santa stamps, painting of Virgin and Child

Canada Post blends the playful and magical essence of the holidays with the sacred tradition of Christmas with its latest holiday stamp issue, released today.

For 2014, the ever-popular holiday issue will strike a chord with Canadians from coast to coast and bring a smile to the recipients of the millions of holiday cards sent and received each year by Canadians.

The issue features three whimsical and colourful depictions of Santa Claus, a symbol of the holidays for much of the world. Santa stamps are available for domestic, U.S. and international rates. Each stamp shows Santa performing his many important tasks.

“In each of the three figures, the kindness and generosity of Santa emerges,” says stamp designer Hélène L’Heureux. “Whether he’s answering letters, handing out gifts, or simply expressing peace and serenity, Santa is endearing, merry and timeless.”

The fourth stamp in the issue – a Permanent™ domestic stamp – features a beautiful detail that shows a classic 17th century painting of the Virgin and Child. The painting is part of the collection at Basilica Cathedral Notre-Dame de Québec in Quebec City. This year’s stamp issue recognizes the parish’s 350th anniversary.

The festive issue helps Canadians add a special touch to their holiday mailings. Many customers also use custom photo stamps to express themselves during the holidays and for other special occasions. Customers can use the Canada Post Picture Postage™ service at any time to create unique, cheerful and memorable stamps for their family, friends and clients. Picture Postage is available at picturepostage.ca and on Canada Post’s free mobile app.

About the stamps
All three Santa stamps (domestic, U.S. and international) measure 22 mm x 24 mm, are pressure sensitive, and are printed by Lowe-Martin using lithography in six colours. The Santa stamps were designed by Hélène L’Heureux and illustrated by Christiane Beauregard. The domestic stamps are available in booklets of 12 stamps and the U.S. and international stamps each in booklets of six. A souvenir sheet of all three stamps is also available; these stamps have simulated perforations and use PVA gum. The Official First Day Cover was cancelled in Saint-Nicolas, QC.

The Virgin and Child stamp measures 26 mm x 32 mm, has simulated perforation and was printed by Lowe-Martin using lithography in seven colours. The stamp was designed by Louise Méthé from a painting by Flemish Baroque painter Abraham Janssens van Nuyssen. The Official First Day Cover was cancelled in Québec, QC. The Permanent domestic stamp is available in booklets of 12. To purchase philatelic products, please visit canadapost.ca/shop. For the Canada Post Picture Postage service, please visit picturepostage.ca, or download the free Canada Post mobile app – available on all platforms.

[Canada Post press release]
Canada Post celebrates the Québec Conference 150th anniversary with commemorative envelope

OTTAWA, Oct.10, 2014 /CNW/ – Today, Canada Post is issuing a commemorative envelope to celebrate the monumental achievement of the Québec Conference delegates. Along with the Charlottetown Conference envelope issued this past September, it continues the story of the first steps in the foundation of our country through archival photographs, art and documents. The envelope showcases a photograph of the conference delegates present at the Québec Conference.

“On October 10, we celebrate the 1864 Québec Conference, reliving a key moment in the creation of Canada,” says Jim Phillips, Director of Stamp Services at Canada Post.

In the fall of 1864, delegates met twice with the ambitious goal of uniting the British North American colonies. The second conference, held in Québec, resolved many of the complex challenges raised during lively discussions in Charlottetown.
From October 10, Québec Conference delegates debated and eventually approved 72 principles that still largely define Canada today. The creation of these Québec Resolutions was guided by a determined Sir John A. Macdonald, who later drafted the British North America Act during the final round of debate in London, England, in 1866-67.

About the commemorative envelope
The Québec Conference commemorative envelope was designed by Isabelle Toussaint, and 8,000 envelopes were printed by Lowe-Martin Group. The envelope measures 170 mm by 115 mm. Images are from the House of Commons Collection, Archives of Ontario and Archives de la Ville de Québec: Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper. The envelope will be cancelled in Quebec. To purchase philatelic products, please visit canadapost.ca/shop. [An view of the envelope before assembly is on the right.]

[Canada Post press release]

Stamp commemorates “Wait for Me Daddy” photograph made famous as symbol of sacrifices on home front in war

A spontaneous burst of affection and excitement, frozen in time by a newspaper photographer’s lightning-fast reflexes, the “Wait for Me Daddy” photograph became famous to a generation.

Now, 74 years later and in time for Remembrance Day, Canada Post has again captured the moment the shutter was snapped, with a commemorative stamp featuring the photograph, accented with poppies.

The story behind the photograph is as remarkable as its enduring power as a poignant symbol of home-front sacrifice in the Second World War.

On October 1, 1940, Private Jack Bernard and other volunteers in The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own Rifles) were marching smartly down Eighth Street in New Westminster to board a ship and sail off to war. Suddenly, Bernard’s five-year-old son broke free of his mother’s grasp and sprinted into the military formation to take his smiling father’s hand. In that instant, an alert Vancouver Daily Province photographer, Claude Dettloff, snapped the shutter. Soon, his unforgettable image of little Warren “Whitey” Bernard was being printed by leading publications throughout North America. It was later used in Canada’s war bond drives with the plea, “help bring my Daddy home.”

“It is an honour to recognize this historic photograph, which touched so many Canadians during a global and prolonged conflict that touched and changed countless families,” says the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport. “It’s a reminder that wars are hard not only on people who serve in uniform or overseas, but also on their loved ones, safe at home on our country’s soil.”

“Our stamps are carefully chosen to reflect Canada’s rich history,” says Deepak Chopra, President and CEO of Canada Post. “The ‘Wait for Me Daddy’ stamp serves as a reminder of the hundreds of thousands of Canadian families who watched people they loved leave home to serve their country.”

Today, Warren “Whitey” Bernard, in his 80th year, lives in Tofino, B.C. He is retired after serving in local politics as an alderman, councillor and mayor of Tofino, following many years with a successful business career. His father did survive the war.

About the Stamp
The Wait for Me Daddy Permanent stamp measures 29 mm x 36 mm. The stamps are printed by Canadian Bank Note company on Tullis Russell paper using lithography in six colours. The Official First Day Cover will be cancelled in New Westminster, British Columbia. The stamps are available in booklets of 10 stamps. A souvenir sheet is also available, framed and unframed. To purchase philatelic products, please visit canadapost.ca/shop.

[Canada Post press release]
New stamp collection celebrates Canada’s hockey passion – Six hockey legends, seven Canadian NHL teams featured in 2014 issue

With the puck about to drop for the 2014-15 NHL® season, Canada Post delivered today a quintessentially Canadian line-up that reflects the country’s deep passion for hockey. In a special ceremony at the Hockey Hall of Fame, it unveiled a collection of stamps that honour legendary Original Six™ Defencemen, Canada’s seven NHL teams and the iconic Zamboni® Ice Resurfacer.

The 2014 Original Six Defencemen series highlights a star from each team in the era that ended with NHL expansion in 1967. The seven-stamp Canadian team issue features team colours and logo displayed on a miniature version of the Zamboni ice-resurfacing machine that revolutionized hockey ice maintenance, contributing to a faster game. These stamps come in coils of 50 to allow fans to support their teams.

In the new Original Six issue, the incomparable Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins® leads a stellar lineup that also includes: Tim Horton (Toronto Maple Leafs®), Pierre Pilote (Chicago Blackhawks®), Red Kelly (Detroit Red Wings®), Doug Harvey (Montreal Canadiens®), and Harry Howell (New York Rangers®). All players, except Horton, a three-time member of the NHL’s First All-Star Team, won the Norris trophy for best defenceman. Horton finished second twice over his brilliant 23-year NHL career, once to Orr.

“The six hockey legends celebrated by Canada Post defined, and in some cases redefined, the defensive position at a golden time in the sport’s history,” says the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport and responsible for Canada Post. “Hockey transcends sport in Canada. It’s part of our very fabric.”

“Hockey is Canada’s passion,” says Canada Post President and CEO Deepak Chopra. “The legendary players we’ve immortalized on these stamps capture part of this country’s hockey story. These men inspired a generation, and their brilliance filled a nation with pride and joy. More than a few NHL players were born of the dreams instilled in them as boys by these stars.”

Minister Raitt and Mr. Chopra joined the four living hockey legends in the Esso Great Hall, home of the Stanley Cup, to unveil the stamps. Jeri Horton Joyce, Tim Horton’s daughter, and Doug and Glen Harvey, Doug Harvey’s sons, represented their fathers at the event.

Designed by Avi Dunkelman and Joe Gault for Mix Design Group of Toronto, each stamp features an image of the player in uniform, their enlarged jersey numbers in the background:

Bobby Orr: Boston Bruins, Number 4. Born in Parry Sound, Ontario, Orr became the first and only defenceman in league history to twice win the Art Ross Trophy for scoring. Orr led the Bruins to victory in the Stanley Cup final in 1970, scoring the winning goal in overtime and earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable playoff player. Orr’s Bruins won the Stanley Cup again in 1972. Orr also won the Calder Trophy as best rookie in 1966-67, three consecutive Hart Trophies as the league’s most valuable player (MVP), and was named to the NHL First All-Star Team eight consecutive times from 1968 to 1975. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979 at age 31.

Tim Horton: Toronto Maple Leafs, Number 7. Horton hailed from Cochrane, Ontario. Though he never won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenceman, his achievements rival those who did. He helped carry the Leafs to four Stanley Cup victories and was a three-time NHL First Team All-Star. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1977.

Pierre Pilote: Chicago Blackhawks, Number 3. Born in Kénogami, Quebec, and raised in Fort Erie, Ontario, Pilote won the Norris Trophy three times from 1963 to 1965. He was instrumental to the Blackhawks’ 1961 Stanley Cup win and earned places on the NHL’s All-Star teams for seven consecutive years from 1960 to 1967. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975.

Red Kelly: Detroit Red Wings, Number 4. Hailing from Simcoe, Ontario, Kelly won the first Norris Trophy awarded in 1954. He won eight Stanley Cups, four as a defenceman with the Detroit Red Wings and four with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a centreman. He also won the Lady Byng Trophy as the NHL’s most gentlemanly player four times and was a six-time First Team All-Star. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969.

Doug Harvey: Montreal Canadiens, Number 2. Harvey was born in Montréal, Quebec, and played for the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues® and Detroit Red Wings. He was an 11-time All-Star who earned the Norris Trophy seven times and gained an immortal place in the history of the Canadiens for the role he played in the Habs’ record-setting five straight Cup wins from 1956 to 1960. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973.

Harry Howell: New York Rangers, Number 3. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Howell played 25 professional hockey seasons from 1951 to 1976. He won the Norris Trophy in 1966-67, the last season of the Original Six and was a First Team All-Star in 1967. He played for the Oakland Seals and Los Angeles Kings® before moving to the WHA in 1973 to play for the San Diego, New Jersey and Calgary franchises. He retired from hockey in 1976 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979.

The Canadian team logo stamps feature an aerial view of a Zamboni Ice Resurfacer decked out in team colours with logo displayed on the ice machine’s roof. It builds on the NHL Team Jerseys Stamps released in 2013. The seven Canadian teams are: Vancouver Canucks®, Calgary Flames®, Edmonton Oilers®, Winnipeg Jets®, Ottawa Senators®, Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens.

Canada Post has produced more than 50 NHL-themed stamps since 1992. The first hockey-themed stamp was issued on January 23, 1956 and featured three players wearing “Canada” jerseys.

The Original Six Defencemen stamp series, an Official First Day Cover, and the seven Canadian team logo stamps are available at Canada Post retail outlets and online at canadapost.ca/NHL.

About the Original Six Defencemen Stamps
Available in a mixed booklet of six, one stamp for each player, the stamps measure 40 mm x 32 mm with simulated perforations, printed by Lowe-Martin using seven-colour lithography on Tullis Russell paper. Six single stamp international rate souvenir sheets are available in a single foil pack that includes a chance to win: one pack in 50 has a signed and authenticated souvenir sheet. Related products: framed prints feature a more current defenceman with the Original Six player: Toronto features Borje Salming, Montreal Larry Robinson, New York Brian Leetch, Chicago Chris Chelios, and Detroit Nicklas Lidstrom. Bobby Orr stands alone for Boston. The Official First Day Covers will be cancelled in the birthplaces of each player: Parry Sound, ON (Orr); Cochrane, ON (Horton); Kénogami, QC (Pilote); Simcoe, ON (Kelly); Montréal, QC (Harvey); and Hamilton, ON (Howell).

About the Canadian Team Logo/Zamboni Ice Resurfacer Stamps
The stamps measure 24 mm x 20 mm with simulated perforations, printed by Lowe-Martin on Tullis Russell paper using six-colour lithography. They are self-adhesive and the Official First Day Covers will be cancelled in Brantford, ON, Canadian headquarters of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc.. There’s an OFDC souvenir sheet, postcards of Zamboni Ice Resurfacer Canadian team coil stamps and seven coil dispensers shaped like Zamboni Ice Resurfacers. The stamps are available in individual coils of 50.

[Canada Post press release]
Carrey, Guimond, Myers, O’Hara and Short Recognized on Comedian Stamp Series

OTTAWA, Aug. 29, 2014 /CNW/ – Today Canada Post is honouring Great Canadian Comedians by issuing a series of stamps featuring them and some of their most memorable roles. The stamps honour the work of Jim Carrey, Olivier Guimond, Mike Myers, Catherine O’Hara and Martin Short, all chosen for their talent in entertaining and making us laugh.

“Canada is the birthplace of some of the world’s most successful comedians and our series is about some of the many Canadian comedians who keep us laughing,” says Jim Phillips, Director of Stamp Services at Canada Post.

Jim Carrey: Born in Newmarket (Ontario), Carrey was a natural entertainer, giving his first stand-up performance at the age of 14. It wasn’t long after Carrey became a staple on Toronto’s comedy circuit. He then moved to Los Angeles where he appeared on An Evening at the Improv and The Tonight Show and as a regular on the sketch comedy series In Living Color. Carrey then starred in some of the most successful movies of all time, including Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, Liar, Liar, The Truman Show, Bruce Almighty and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Olivier Guiond: Rising to fame on Quebec’s burlesque scene, Guimond continued to shine at the Théâtre National, the Théâtre des Variétés, the Théâtre Odéon-Mercier, the Comédie-Canadienne and Place des Arts. Guimond starred on the popular TV series Cré Basile and appeared on the well-known Radio-Canada comedy review Bye Bye. He will always be remembered for his portrayal of Basile Lebrun on Télé-Métropole, which stands as one of Guimond’s greatest achievements.

Mike Myers: Born in Scarborough (Ontario), he learned to love Monty Python and Benny Hill from his father. In the early 80s, he joined Toronto’s Second City ensemble before making his mark as a cast member of Saturday Night Live, where some of his characters vaulted from the TV sketch to the big screen. He also created memorable characters, from Wayne Campbell in Wayne’s World to Austin Powers/Dr. Evil and voiced the green ogre in the Shrek movies. In 2013, he made his directorial debut with Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon.

Catherine O’Hara: O’Hara’s first appearance on stage was with Toronto’s Second City troupe. She moved on to television on the SCTV show, where she is remembered for playing a range of hilarious characters. Her film career took off with After Hours followed by Beetlejuice. She was memorable in the Home Alone movies, and lent her comedic talent as a voice actor in The Nightmare Before Christmas, Chicken Little, Over the Hedge and Frankenweenie.

Martin Short: A native of Hamilton (Ontario), Short’s comedic career kicked off by joining Toronto’s Second City troupe. He moved on to the SCTV show, creating several memorable characters that would later reappear in The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley and I, Martin Short, Goes Home. When SCTV ended, he jumped to the big screen, co-starring in Three Amigos. He also lent his voice to hit animated movies, including Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and more recently, Frankenweenie.

About the stamps
The stamps measure 40 mm x 26 mm and are available booklets of 10. The five separate Official First Day Covers measure 191 mm x 113 mm and the souvenir sheet featuring all five comedians measures 130 mm x 95 mm. The stamps were printed by the Canadian Bank Note. Kosta Tsetsekas, Mike Savage and John Belisle of the Signals design group designed the stamps. The Official First Day Cover cancellation sites are: Jim Carrey, Newmarket, Ont.; Olivier Guimond, Montréal, Que.; Mike Myers and Catherine O’Hara, Toronto, Ont. and Martin Short, Hamilton, Ont. To purchase philatelic products, please visit canadapost.ca/shop.

[press release]
Canada Post celebrates Canadian Country Artists, past and present

OTTAWA, July 31, 2014 /CNW/ – Today Canada Post recognizes Canada’s contribution to the evolution of country music with a series of five new stamps featuring some of the country’s most renowned artists. The new stamps feature Tommy Hunter, k.d. lang, Renée Martel, Hank Snow and Shania Twain – 5 of the most unique voices in Canada’s country music history.

“The music of these artists holds a special place for so many Canadians, and these stamps are likely to stir memories of those lasting musical moments,” says the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

“Our selection for this stamp series reflects the remarkable variety within Canadian – and international – country music, crossing generations and musical approaches,” says Deepak Chopra, President and CEO of Canada Post. “We’re delighted to celebrate the music and achievements of these artists today.”

Tommy Hunter: For generations of Canadians, Tommy Hunter was like an old friend, singing to them for 27 years on the longest-running network country music television show in the world. A major force in raising the profile and popularity of Canadian country music, Tommy Hunter – Canada’s Country Gentleman – has been inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame and is a recipient of the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada.

k.d. lang: In a career that has spanned nearly 30 years, with over a dozen albums and millions of records sold worldwide, k.d. lang has won both JUNO and Grammy awards for her work. She has received a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award and is an Officer of the Order of Canada. The Canadian Country Music Association has named k.d. lang both Female Vocalist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.

Renée Martel: Renée Martel has enjoyed a long and outstanding career. Born in 1947 in Drummondville, Quebec, she grew up in the musical universe of her parents, both musicians. Her father was Marcel Martel, a popular Quebec country music singer from the 1940s. Renée’s own musical journey has swung between the modern and the traditional, between the world of pop music and her country heritage. Her current discography includes more than 25 albums and her musical heritage has lived on.

Hank Snow: Hank Snow, the Singing Ranger, was born 100 years ago in Brooklyn, Nova Scotia. Snow began his career at CHNS Radio in Halifax in 1933, and toured the Maritimes and Western Canada playing at county fairs and local radio stations. In 1936, he recorded under RCA Victor’s Bluebird label in Montréal and signed what would become the longest continuous contract in the history of the recording industry – lasting 47 years. In 1950, Ernest Tubb invited him to join the Grand Ole Opry, where he continued to perform for four and a half decades. Hank Snow recorded over 100 albums, was elected to eight music and song-writing halls of fame, and was voted Canada’s top country performer 10 times.

Shania Twain: Shania Twain is a true Canadian superstar. She was born in Windsor, Ontario and raised in Timmins, and rose to fame in the early 1990s with her debut album Shania Twain in 1993. Her 1997 album, Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician, and the best-selling country album of all time. She has sold over 75 million albums worldwide, won five Grammy Awards, 27 BMI Songwriter Awards, 26 Canadian Country Music Awards and 12 JUNO Awards, among many others. She has also received a star on Hollywood Boulevard and was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame as well as the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

About the stamps
The stamps measure 40 mm x 32 mm and are available in five separate booklets of 10, one featuring each artist. The five separate souvenir sheets measure 140 mm x 110 mm. The stamps were printed by Lowe Martin Group. Sabrina McAllister and Xerxes Irani designed the Shania Twain, Hank Snow and Renée Martel stamps. The k.d. lang and Tommy Hunter stamps were designed by Roy White of Subplot Design Inc. The Official First Day Cover cancellation sites are: Shania Twain, Windsor, Ont.; Tommy Hunter, London, Ont.; k.d. Lang, Edmonton, Alta.; Renée Martel, Drummondville, Que. and Hank Snow, Brooklyn, N.S. To download images of the stamps or to purchase philatelic products, please visit canadapost.ca/shop.

VSC’s radio feature on these stamps is here.

Canada Post’s Official FDCs (available singly or as a set):