[press release

Christmas stamps feature historic nativity-themed painting and a trio of amusing animal portraitsOTTAWA – Canada Post combines whimsical holiday Canadiana with a traditional sacred Christmas image in this year’s holiday stamps offering. These beautifully designed stamps will add a special touch of holiday joy to cards and letters sent across the country and beyond.

Charming close-ups of a moose, a beaver and a polar bear are each decked out in retro festive attire on these bold and amusing PermanentTM domestic, U.S.- and International-rate stamps.  Elements of clothing flowing beyond the edges of the stamp frame emphasize the stylish humour of these Canadiana cameos.

The fourth stamp, a Permanent domestic stamp, features an image from a nativity-themed painting by Adraen Isenbrandt entitled The Adoration of the Magi. The painting, from the early 16th century, depicts the moment when Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus behold the arrival of the Magi. The Wise Men can be seen in the background. The painting was photographed for the stamp by Denis Farley, and the image was made available courtesy of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. The painting was part of a generous donation made to the museum by Michal and Renata Hornstein.

“The world’s first Christmas stamp was issued in Canada in 1898, and at Canada Post we value that tradition,” says Deepak Chopra, President and CEO of Canada Post. “The holiday stamps are the final issue in this year’s stamp program, and they are ever-popular.”

About the Christmas stamps:
Christmas – Animals: Designed by Paprika and illustrated by well-known painter, illustrator and artist Gérard DuBois, each of the 3 stamps measures 22 mm by 24 mm. The stamps are printed by Lowe-Martin in 5 colour lithography. The Permanent™ domestic stamps are available in booklets of 12 and the U.S. rate and International rate stamps are each available in booklets of 6. Souvenir sheets of all 3 stamps are available. The Official First Day Cover cancellation site is Christmas Island, N.S.

Christmas – Madonna and Child: Designed by Louise Méthé, this Permanent™ domestic stamp measures 26.25 mm by 32.25 mm. The stamp was printed by Canadian Bank Note in 6 colour lithography. It is available in booklets of 12. The Official First Day Cover cancellation site is Montréal, Que.

To purchase these stamps and other philatelic products, please visit canadapost.ca/shop

 

[press release]

NHL Great Canadian Goalies stamps celebrate six innovators, influencers
Legendary goalies immortalized in multi-year NHL stamp collectionTORONTO, Oct. 1, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ – Less than a week before the puck drops to start the 2015-16 NHL season, Canada Post lifted the veil today on a new stamp issue that celebrates six goaltending greats who transformed hockey.

The 2015 NHL Great Canadian Goalies set highlights some of the finest goalies to play in the NHL between 1952 and 2015: Lorne “Gump” Worsley (Montreal Canadiens), Johnny Bower (Toronto Maple Leafs), Tony Esposito (Chicago Blackhawks), Bernie Parent (Philadelphia Flyers), Ken Dryden (Montreal Canadiens) and Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils).

All won the most coveted of prizes – the Stanley Cup Championship and the Vezina Trophy, recognizing the NHL’s best goalkeeper. All changed the way the game was played or perceived, making them larger-than-life figures.

“These six goalies will forever remain relevant and real in a country that embraces its stars,” says Canada Post President and CEO Deepak Chopra. “They wore their hearts on their sleeves while they played, and captured ours in the process. Their on-ice brilliance left an indelible impression on a nation. They are an important part of our country’s rich history, and we are proud to immortalize these players on our stamps.”

“Many people dream of playing in the NHL, but only a distinguished number of players achieve it; and an even smaller, esteemed group leave a timeless impression,” says Bill Daly, NHL Deputy Commissioner. “Having some of the greatest NHL goalies immortalized on these stamps is remarkable; a true testament to their impact on hockey fans around the world. We’re proud to share this momentous occasion with the players, their loved ones, and the fans.”

Four of the five living hockey legends attended the unveiling ceremony in the Esso Great Hall, home of the Stanley Cup at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Martin Brodeur, St. Louis Blues Assistant General Manager, was represented by his nephew, Philippe Gendron. Doreen Worsley, Gump Worsley’s widow, represented her husband at the event attended by hundreds of other dignitaries and fans.

Avi Dunkelman and Joe Gault of Mix Design in Toronto designed the six-stamp Canadian issue, which features head-and-shoulder images of the players in uniform. The players are portrayed the way fans remember them. Four of the six are in masks. Two – Worsley and Bower – are without.

Oversize rate souvenir sheets resembling hockey cards and featuring full images of the players in game action are also offered. The back of the souvenir sheets complete the hockey-card experience, offering career statistics that tell part of the players’ professional story. They are available in packs of six, like hockey cards.

The lineup:

Lorne “Gump” Worsley: New York Rangers (1952-53, 1954-55 to 1962-63), Montreal Canadiens (1963-64 to 1969-70), Minnesota North Stars (1969-70 to 1973-74). Born May 14, 1929, Montréal, Que. Worsley’s innovative style of lying on his side and making a wall of his pads became known as “Stacking the Gumpers.” The jokester who once said his face was his mask won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year for the Rangers in 1953. With the Canadiens, he won the Stanley Cup Championship four times and the Vezina Trophy twice as the NHL’s best goalie between 1965 and 1969. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1980.

Johnny Bower: New York Rangers (1953-54, 1954-55, 1956-57), Toronto Maple Leafs (1958-59 to 1969-70). Born November 8, 1924, Prince Albert, Sask.Bower was a pioneer of the goalie poke check – diving headfirst into an attacking player to dislodge the puck from his stick. This he did without the protection of a mask. A member of Toronto’s last Stanley Cup championship team, Bower captured four Cup Championships in his career (1962, 1963, 1964 and 1967). He also won the Vezina Trophy twice (1961 and 1965). He retired at age 45 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1976.

Tony Esposito: Montreal Canadiens (1968-69), Chicago Blackhawks (1969-70 to 1983-84). Born April 23, 1943, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. The man fans called “Tony O” was a pioneer of the now-popular butterfly style. He started his NHL career making 13 regular season appearances for the Montreal Canadiens in 1968-69. A year later, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year as a member of the Blackhawks. He would win the Vezina Trophy as best goalkeeper in 1970, 1972 and 1974 and play in the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988.

Bernie Parent: Boston Bruins (1965-66 to 1966-67), Philadelphia Flyers (1967-68 to 1970-71, 1973-74 to 1978-79), Toronto Maple Leafs (1970-71 to 1971-72). Born April 3, 1945, Montréal, Que. Considered by many as the last great standup goalkeeper, Parent won the Stanley Cup, Vezina Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player to his team in the playoffs in 1974 and 1975. His white Fiberglass mask with Flyers logos at each temple became iconic, making the cover of Time magazine in 1975. His mask decorations preceded the grandiose works of art that are modern-day masks. He was wearing his mask a night inFebruary 1979 when a stick accidentally poked through its right eye hole, causing permanent damage to Parent’s vision and ending a magnificent career at age 34, while he was still in his athletic prime. Parent was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984.

Ken Dryden: Montreal Canadiens (1970-71 to 1972-73, 1974-75 to 1978-79). Born August 8, 1947, Hamilton, Ont. Dryden not only shone on the ice, but influenced the way we perceived our national winter sport through his writing and teaching. The Game, one of several books authored by Dryden, was published in 1983 and described by one journalist as an intriguing “meditation on hockey’s special place in Canadian culture.” Dryden won the Stanley Cup Championship six times, his first before playing a full season in the NHL. He remains the only NHL player to ever win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP before winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year. In just more than seven full seasons, Dryden won the Vezina Trophy an amazing five times. He also played for Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet national team. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983, his first year of eligibility.

Martin Brodeur: New Jersey Devils (1991-92 to 2013-14), St. Louis Blues (2014-15). Born May 6, 1972, Montréal, Que. Brodeur made hockey history with puck-handling prowess so remarkable that lead to “The Brodeur Rule” in 2005-’06, limiting where goalkeepers can handle the puck outside the crease. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 1993-94, his first full year as the Devils’ starter, and the Stanley Cup Championship three times over his career. He is a four-time Vezina Trophy winner, and five-time winner of the William M. Jennings Trophy for the fewest goals against. Brodeur also won two Olympic gold medals with Team Canada in the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and is the only goalie in NHL history with eight 40-win seasons. He is also one of only two goalies to have scored a goal in both the regular season and the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The 2015 NHL Great Canadian Goalies set is the third of a five-year collection of NHL stamps leading up to the NHL’s 100th anniversary in 2017. The issue builds on the NHL Team jerseys stamps released in 2013 and the Original Six™ defensemen issue released last year. Canada Post has produced more than 50 NHL-themed stamps since 1992.

The NHL goalkeepers’ stamps and all related products are available online at canadapost.ca/NHL.

About the 2015 NHL Great Canadian Goalies Stamps
Available in a mixed booklet of six, one for each player, the stamps measure 40 mm x 32 mm with simulated perforations, and are printed by Lowe-Martin onTullis Russell paper with seven-colour lithography. The booklet front features a photograph of Martin Brodeur, taken by his father, Denis Brodeur, while the inside cover features a Hockey Hall of Fame archival photograph of Gump Worsley and Johnny Bower shaking hands after a playoff game in 1962. Oversize rate hockey-card-size souvenir sheets are available in a pack of six, as well. Each includes a chance to win: one in 40 packs has a signed and authenticated souvenir sheet. Related products: A gummed mini-pane collectors’ item featuring all six players. The mini-pane features embossed, foiled logos of the team each player was best known for and an embossed image of Jacques Plante’s first game-worn mask. The Official First Day Covers – one for each player – will be cancelled in the birthplaces of the players: Montréal, QC (Worsley, Parent and Brodeur); Prince Albert, SK (Bower); Sault Ste. Marie, ON (Esposito); and Hamilton, ON(Dryden). Limited edition numbered framed prints are available for each player. Bower, Brodeur, Esposito and Parent have signed prints.

[press release]

Ghostly tales from across the country in second Haunted Canada stamp issueCanada Post unveiled a second set of stamps on September 14, 2015, featuring popular Canadian ghost stories. The stamps are part of a multi-year series that shares some of the spookiest tales from across the country.

This year’s set highlights stories about Vancouver’s Gastown – believed to have the most haunted history of any other neighbourhood in Canada; the rumbling ghostly ox cart that panicked the soldiers of the Red River Valley’s Lower Fort Garry, in Manitoba; Marie-Josephte Corriveau, whose soul is said to wander the dark roads and forests near Lévis, Quebec; the Caribou Hotel in Carcross, Yukon, rumoured to be haunted by its past innkeeper; and the Grey Lady who wanders the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site searching for her lost love.

“There is nothing more fun, yet unsettling, as ghost stories, and we have a history filled with these memorable tales. Our hope is that Canadians from coast to coast can continue to discover and pass on these stories, which are sure to give a few spine-tingling chills,” says Jim Phillips, Director of Stamp Services, Canada Post.

“Be prepared for a little scare with these legendary local stories and let your creativity take over,” says Joel Sutherland, author of the children’s series of Haunted Canada books and adviser to the stamp series. “The series makes for huddling close to the campfire – or a scary sleepover.”

• Gastown, Vancouver, B.C. – haunted history: Legend has it the Waterfront Station and several bars and restaurants in the neighbourhood are all haunted – making it home to more dearly departed but persistently present spirits than any neighbourhood in Canada.
• Red River Valley, Man. – the ox cart: In 1903, soldiers at the Red River Valley’s Fort Garry claimed to have seen phantoms driving a cart pulled by a team of oxen pass through their post at night.
• Lévis, Que. – Marie-Josephte Corriveau: In 1763, she was executed on charges of murder. Her soul was said to walk the road at night, approaching travelers and grabbing anyone passing by with her claw-like hands as she opened her blood-red eyes.
• Carcross, Yukon – Caribou Hotel: Built in the town of Bennett in 1898 at the start of the Klondike Gold Rush, the hotel is rumoured to be haunted by late hotel co-owner Bessie Gideon’s ghost. She was supposedly buried in Carcross but a cemetery survey did not locate her grave.
• Halifax, N.S. – the Grey Lady: Legend has it that the spirit of the “Grey Lady” wanders the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, mourning her lost love, strolling the second floor at night, smelling of roses and wearing a 19th-century dress.

About the stamps
The five Permanent domestic-rate stamps measure 32 mm by 32 mm and are available in booklets of 10. They were designed by Lionel Gadoury and printed by Lowe-Martin Group in six-colour lithography with a holographic foil. A souvenir sheet of the five stamps measuring 127 mm by 73 mm, an Official First Day Cover [shown below], cancelled in Lévis, Que., an uncut press sheet measuring 483 mm by 616 mm and a Haunted Canada Gift set complete this stamp issue.

[press release]

New stamp honours historic reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of CanadaOTTAWA, Sept. 9, 2015 /CNW/ – Canada Post today issued a stamp to honour a Royal milestone. As of 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be the longest reigning Sovereign in Canada’s modern era (more than 63 years), surpassing the reign of her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria (1837-1901).

“Our stamps not only depict past history, often they celebrate history in the making. This is just such an event – and we are proud to have the opportunity to honour Her Majesty as well as her remarkable record of service to Canada and all Canadians,” says Deepak Chopra, President and CEO, Canada Post.

From a timeless portrait of Her Majesty’s Coronation in 1953 to a photo taken during the 2010 Royal Tour of Canada, the new stamp captures six decades of Queen Elizabeth II. During her reign, Her Majesty has graced more than 60 stamps.

Her Majesty ascended the throne on February 6, 1952, following the sudden death of her father, King George VI. Her coronation took place on June 2, 1953. For most Canadians, she is the only Sovereign to have reigned during their lifetime.

The stamp design was unveiled by Canada Post’s board chair, Siân Matthews and The Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada.

It was designed by Entro’s Doreen Colonello and Gerald Querubin. Photographed at the 2010 Canada Day celebration on Parliament Hill, Her Majesty is dressed in red and white – Canada’s official colours, as designated by her grandfather, King George V in 1921. She also proudly wears the famous diamond maple leaf broach presented to her mother, Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) as part of the famous 1939 Royal Tour of Canada.

Other Royal Family Members have also graced Canadian postage. Most recently, stamps marking the engagement and wedding of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were extremely popular with all Canadians in 2011, and in 2013, a baby blue stamp heralded the arrival of HRH Prince George Alexander Louis.

About the stamp
The pressure sensitive stamp available in booklets of 10 measures 40 mm X 32 mm (horizontal). It is printed in four-colour lithography plus a metallic silver ink by Lowe-Martin on Tullis Russell paper. The official first day cover will be cancelled in Ottawa, Ont. To purchase philatelic products, please visit canadapost.ca/shop.

[press release]
Stamp celebrates Alice Munro, Nobel Prize-winning writer

Alice Munro, the recognized master of the exquisitely honed short story and the first Canadian woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, is celebrated on a new stamp that pays homage to elements of her work.

The stamp incorporates a photograph of Munro that was taken by her daughter Sheila, a sample of the author’s handwriting from archival material, and vintage images of Wingham, Ont., the small town in which Munro was born. Many believe that Wingham inspired her fictional town of Jubilee, in which many of her stories are set. The stamp was designed by Marcio Morgado and Paul Haslip of Toronto’s HM&E Design.

“Alice Munro is not only one of Canada’s most critically acclaimed writers but also one of the most popular,” says the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport and responsible for Canada Post. “Her stories have garnered recognition worldwide and this tribute adds to her lifetime of honours.”

“Our stamp program recognizes the achievements of Canadians,” says Deepak Chopra, President and CEO of Canada Post. “As fans of this prolific author know, Ms. Munro’s literary talent, wisdom and humanity, reflected in her stories over several decades, have earned her recognition that few writers in any language or country attain.”

Alice Munro’s early works found their way into Canadian literary journals and CBC Radio’s Anthology. Her first collection, Dance of the Happy Shades, was published in 1968. In the mid-1970s, her short stories began appearing regularly in The New Yorker, bringing her a broader, international audience. She has been awarded three Governor-General’s awards in 1968, 1978 and 1986, Giller prizes in 1998 and 2004, and the Man Booker International Prize for lifetime achievement in 2009.

When she was presented with her Nobel Prize in 2013, a representative of the Nobel Committee for Literature said, “Reading one of her texts is like watching a cat walk across a laid dinner table. … Alice Munro is often able to say more in 30 pages than an ordinary novelist is capable of in 300.”

The stamp’s release date of July 10 marks Munro’s birthday.

About the stamp
The pressure-sensitive stamp – printed by Colour Innovations Inc. on Tullis Russell paper using lithography in five colours – is available in booklets of 10 and measures 26 mm x 32 mm (vertical), with simulated perforations. The Official First Day Cover will be cancelled in Wingham, Ont. To purchase philatelic products, please visit canadapost.ca/shop.

• ISSUE DATE: July 10, 2015
• STAMP DESIGNER: Marcio Morgado and Paul Haslip of Toronto’s HM&E
• STAMP VALUE: Permanent™ (domestic)
• NUMBER OF STAMPS INCLUDED: 10
• QUANTITY PRODUCED: 150,000
• DIMENSIONS: 26mm x 32mm

[press release]
Canada’s striking weather wonders highlighted in new set of stamps

Canada Post unveiled on June 12, with help from The Weather Network and the Honourable Lisa Raitt, five new stamps designed to showcase one of Canadians’ most popular topics: the weather. The five stamps, issued to coincide with the 175th anniversary of continuous weather observing in Canada, feature weather phenomena in all their photographic splendor.

From brilliant flashes of lightning to crystal-clear ice veneers, the images on these stamps showcase the incredible variety of weather we experience in Canada – all thanks to the photographers who braved the elements to capture these meteorological marvels.

The five photographs come from every corner of the country. Daryl Benson snapped hoar frost covering a tree near Beaumont, Alberta. Geoff Whiteway focused on hazy, early-morning fog at Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site in Newfoundlandand Labrador. In Saint-Gédéon, Quebec, Mike Grandmaison chased a rain shower to shoot a double rainbow, while Dave Reede captured radiant flashes of lightning near Winnipeg, Manitoba. Further north, in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Frank Reardon caught rarely witnessed sun dogs, created by ice crystals in the air, and posted the photograph on The Weather Network, where Canada Post discovered it.

“From coast-to-coast-to-coast Canada is known for its diversity, and weather is no exception. The images captured in weather wonders illustrate the natural beauty that can be seen across our country,” says the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, responsible for Canada Post.

“Canadians love to talk about the weather,” says Canada Post President and CEO Deepak Chopra. “Our stamp program celebrates the people, stories and attributes that capture the Canadian experience and we can all reminisce on a special weather moment.”

“The Weather Network and MeteoMedia have a 26-year history of providing weather to Canadians, and we reach over 20 million people each month,” says Pierre L. Morrissette, CEO, Pelmorex Media Inc. “In that time, our team has experienced first-hand how deep Canadians’ fascination with weather truly runs and this stamp series is the perfect reflection of the diverse and unique conditions our country experiences.”

Armed with these spectacular visuals, Kosta Tsetsekas and Defne Corbacioglu – of Vancouver-based Signals – designed a set of stamps that are tied together seamlessly. They used themed icons as a nod to the long history of weather iconography – the small suns, clouds and raindrops you see in your daily weather forecast. The icons add spice to the stamps without clouding the stunning photography.

About the stamps
The 48-mm-by-26-mm stamps are available in booklets of 10. They were printed by Canadian Bank Note in lithography with six colours. They were designed by Kosta Tsetsekas and Defne Corbacioglu of Vancouver-based Signals. The souvenir sheet of five stamps measures 130 mm by 95 mm. The uncut press sheet of six souvenir sheets measures 616 mm by 483 mm and features the image of the double rainbow. The Official First Day Cover features the souvenir sheet and measures 191 mm by 113 mm. The cancellation site is Toronto, chosen because it was the location of Canada’s first weather observatory, which marks its 175thanniversary this year.

[press release]
New stamps aim to promote awareness of responsible pet ownership

OTTAWA, May 1, 2015 /CNW/ – Canadians love their pets – including some 10 million cats, 5.5 million dogs and plenty of rodents, reptiles, birds and fish. Love Your Pet: Responsible Pet Ownership is a colourful new stamp series that offers reminders of the importance of spaying or neutering, regular visits to the veterinarian, proper nutrition, creating comfortable surroundings, and plenty of play, exercise and attention. Like the popular 2013 “Adopt-a-Pet” stamp set, this issue was produced with the guidance of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS).

“Companion animals enrich our lives and bring us joy and happiness on a daily basis. With this stamp issue, we hope to create broader awareness of what it takes to keep pets happy and healthy,” says Jim Phillips, Director of Stamp Services at Canada Post.

“These stamps artistically demonstrate some of the important ways that we can ensure that our companion animals receive the physical and emotional care they deserve,” says Barbara Cartwright, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.

The animals in the bright, lighthearted artwork all show warmth and express personality in scenes where they are cared for responsibly. It’s a visually appealing and celebratory way of illustrating the pets in our lives, while reminding us about ways of keeping them safe, healthy and happy.

The stamps were designed by Lara Minja and illustrated by Genevieve Simms with a whimsical and colourful brushstroke-style. The stamps will be unveiled at the opening of National Animal Welfare Conference, which will be held from May 2-5, 2015, in Richmond, B.C.

About the stamps
The stamps are available in booklets of 10 measure 24 mm x 39.5 mm (vertical), 40 mm x 39.5 mm (vertical), 24 mm x 32 mm (vertical), and 24 mm x 24 mm with simulated perforations, while the souvenir sheet has 13+ perforations. They are printed by Lowe-Martin on Tullis Russell paper using lithography in six colours. The stamps are pressure sensitive. The Official First Day Cover will be cancelled in Richmond, B.C., the location of this year’s National Animal Welfare Conference. To download the image of the stamps, please click here. To purchase philatelic products, please visit canadapost.ca/shop.

[press release]
Enduring elegy by Canadian combat surgeon featured in new stamp
John McCrae’s In Flanders Fields was written 100 years ago to honour both one close friend and countless war dead

Ottawa (Ont.) – Canada Post will issue a stamp to mark the 100th anniversary of the poignant poem that made the poppy an international symbol of wartime sacrifices and has been recited in ceremonies for a century.

On May 3, 1915, in the First World War’s Second Battle of Ypres, Canadian combat surgeon John McCrae was grief-stricken at the death of a friend and comrade, and overwhelmed by the sheer carnage and death around him. He wrote In Flanders Fields to express his sorrow and commemorate Lt. Alexis Helmer and the thousands of other soldiers dying in that conflict.

In Flanders Fields was first published 100 years ago, in December 1915, in England’s Punch magazine. It became perhaps the most popular poem from the First World War and inspired the choice of the poppy as a symbol of the sacrifices made in that and subsequent wars. To this day, the poem is recited at Remembrance Day services in Canada and around the world. It and its French-language adaptation, Au Champ d’honneur, are engraved on marble plaques in the Memorial Chamber inside the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill.

“Both John McCrae and his poem are national treasures,” says the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport and responsible for Canada Post. “The poem has become an emotional touchstone as a means of remembering the sacrifices of those who served so that we may be free.”

“Our stamps reveal what is of value to Canadians – including what bonds us from one generation to another. This poem is written indelibly on our hearts in a way that helps us honour those who gave their lives in the service of this country,” says Deepak Chopra, President and CEO, Canada Post.

Designed by Janice Carter and Tejashri Kapure of q30, the stamp is based on iconic imagery drawn from the lines of the poem, with images of crosses “row on row,” of singing larks and of the fragile red poppy, which appears with the permission of the Royal Canadian Legion. A five-stamp mini pane features the poem in the author’s handwriting – in a version that varies slightly from that made famous by Punch.

Lt. Col. McCrae was himself was an indirect casualty of war; he died on January 28, 1918, of pneumonia and meningitis. In 1968, 50 years after his death, the Post Office Department (now Canada Post) issued a stamp that paid him tribute.

About the stamps
The pressure sensitive stamps available in booklets of 10 measure 40 mm x 32 mm (vertical), while the five-stamp mini pane (water-activated gum) has 13 + perforations. They are printed by Lowe-Martin on Tullis Russell paper using lithography in six colours. The official first day cover will be cancelled in Guelph, Ont. To purchase philatelic products, please visit canadapost.ca/shop.

[press release]
Sinclair and Buchanan on stamp as Canada hosts FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015

Canada’s most accomplished women’s soccer player and a rising star on the Canadian squad are both captured in action on a new stamp to mark Canada’s hosting of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™. The stamp, featuring Canada’s Christine Sinclair and Kadeisha Buchanan, will be issued on May 6 in post offices across the country, but currently available for pre-orders online.

Canada will be welcoming the top 24 nations in a total of 52 matches in six host cities: Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montréal and Moncton. Canada and China will play in the Opening Match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ on Saturday, June 6 in Edmonton, and the Final will be played in Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium on Sunday, July 5.

“Women’s soccer has generated memorable and dramatic performances from Canadians giving everything they have at the sport’s highest levels,” says the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport and responsible for Canada Post. “This competition will showcase athleticism and passion for the game – and so do the images on this stamp.”

“The stamp commemorating the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 is a tribute not only to these outstanding athletes and soccer’s world-wide appeal, but also of Canada’s strength and leadership in playing host to competitions that attract the best of the best,” said the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport).

“Canada Post is highlighting these athletes and the most prestigious tournament in women’s soccer,” says Deepak Chopra, President and CEO, Canada Post. “At the same time, we are celebrating the incredible advancements that the women’s game has made in Canada, on the field and in fan interest.”

Sinclair, the all-time leader in international appearances for Canada, has scored more than 150 goals in international play. A two-time Olympian, she led Canada to an Olympic bronze medal in the 2012 London Games. Her performance included three goals in one game against the U.S. team, which went on to win the gold, and she carried Canada’s flag at the closing ceremony. This will be her fourth consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup™ competition.

Buchanan has been called “the (Christine) Sinclair of defenders” by Canada’s head coach, John Herdman. She was a standout for Canada in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, which Canada hosted in 2014. She plays with a perennial college soccer powerhouse, the West Virginia University Mountaineers. The authoritative TopDrawerSoccer.com ranks Buchanan No. 6 among collegiate and non-professional women players in the U.S. – and No. 1 in her NCAA division.

“The FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 will be a game-changer for women’s sport in Canada,” said Peter Montopoli, General Secretary of the Canadian Soccer Association and CEO, National Organizing Committee FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™. “Today, these two wonderful Canadian athletes have been stamped into history and will forever serve as symbols of Canada’s contribution to the greatest event in women’s sport.”

Emblematic of the players coming to Canada from around the world, Ayumi Kaihori of Japan, a goalkeeper who has appeared in 24 international matches, also appears on the stamp.

About the stamp
The pressure-sensitive stamps available in booklets of 10 measure 40 mm x 32 mm (horizontal). They are designed by Debbie Adams of Toronto and printed by Lowe-Martin on Tullis Russell paper using lithography in eight colors. The Official First Day Cover will be cancelled in Edmonton, Alta., site of the opening game. A collectible plaque showcasing the players along with a mint stamp is also available. To download the image of the stamps, please click here. To purchase philatelic products, please visit canadapost.ca/shop.

About the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™
From June 6 to July 5, 2015, the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ will be hosted in Canada with matches to be played in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montréal and Moncton. This will be the first time that Canada hosts an international sporting event from coast to coast. Recognized as the most important international competition in women’s soccer, the upcoming competition will unite soccer fans worldwide while giving Canada an opportunity to embrace the best in women’s sport.

Information related to the competition, including the Ticketing and Spectator Guides, is available at www.FIFA.com/Canada2015. Fans are encouraged to share their excitement by sharing photos and videos on the FIFA Women’s World Cup Facebook and Twitter (@fifawwc) pages using hashtags #fifawwc #BeThere #Canada2015.

[press release]

Works of Canada’s best photographers explored further with new set of stamps
Series traces history of photography over the past 150 yearsOTTAWA, April 7, 2015 /CNW/ – Seven more of Canada’s best photographers will be celebrated tomorrow as Canada Post releases the third issue of stamps in a five-year series on photography. The work of Nina Raginsky, Sam Tata, Geoffrey James,Larry Towell, Geneviève Cadieux, Conrad Poirier and Harold Mortimer-Lamb was carefully selected with the assistance of leading curators and gallery owners to showcase some of the quintessential Canadian photographs of the past 150 years.

Nina Raginsky began taking photographs in 1962 with her father’s Nikon F – the only camera she ever owned. She is known for her portraits of people she has encountered as a street photographer in Montréal and throughout Quebec, as well as in Mexico,England, Vancouver, Victoria and other parts of British Columbia. She is an officer of the Order of Canada and her work appears in the National Gallery of Canada. Selected for this series is Shoeshine Stand, shot in Vancouver, B.C., in 1974.

Sam Tata is a photojournalist and portrait photographer who immigrated to Canada in 1956. His portraits of Canadian artists, writers, poets and photographers are an important contribution to Canadian photography. In 1989, he was the subject of a retrospective exhibition at the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography. Selected for this series is Angels, shot on Saint Jean-Baptiste Day in Montréal, Que., in 1962.

Geoffrey James was born in Wales and immigrated to Canada in 1966. James took the portrait Alex Colville on the TantramarMarshes, selected for this stamp series, in 1970 while he was writing a profile of the Canadian painter for Time Canada. His work shows the effects people have had on the land, from asbestos mining in Quebec to the border between the U.S. and Mexico atTijuana. In 2012, he received a Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts.

Larry Towell began travelling the world in the early 1980s to document the struggles of the landless and dispossessed in the most prominent uprisings of the time. The photographer, poet, film maker and musician is the author of 14 books of photography and is the recipient of numerous international awards, including the inaugural Henri Cartier-Bresson (France), le prix Nadar(France), the Leica Oskar Barnack (Germany) and several World Press accolades (Holland). Towell was Canada’s first member of the prestigious Magnum Photo Agency and is one of the most decorated Canadian photojournalists. Selected for this series isIsaac’s First Swim, shot in Lambton County, Ontario, in 1996.

Geneviève Cadieux presents the body as a landscape, focusing on small details such as a bruise or scar in extreme close-ups. A woman’s red lips are the subject of the photograph selected for this stamp eries, La Voie Lactée. Cadieux is also interested in the way art integrates into the urban environment. Many of her works are installed in public spaces. She is a winner of the 2011 Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts.

Conrad Poirier. Born in the Montréal area in 1912, Poirier freelanced for newspapers such as La Presse, the Gazette, Le Samediand La Patrie, capturing images of sporting events as well as popular entertainment artists. His celebrity photographs defined him as an early paparazzo. He shot many well-known event and street photographs between 1936 and 1946, work he called his “New Vision” photography. Selected for this series is Friends and Family and Trips. In front of Simpsons, shot in in Montréal in 1936.

Harold Mortimer-Lamb was a Renaissance man who worked as a mining engineer, journalist, art critic, photographer and artist. Mortimer-Lamb came to Canada from England in 1889, settling in British Columbia. While his professional life was devoted largely to mining, he developed an early interest in photography, specializing in soft-focus romantic portraits. After relocating to Montréal early in 1900, he later returned to Vancouver where he opened an art gallery and began to paint. Selected for this series isSoutham Sisters, c. 1915-1919.

About the stamps
The stamps measure 36 mm x 30 mm (horizontal) and 30 mm x 36 mm (vertical) and are available in booklets of 10 domestic stamps and of six U.S. and International denominations. Two souvenir sheets (one of one vertical stamp and two horizontal stamps; one of four horizontal stamps) measure 150 mm x 75 mm. They were printed by Canadian Banknote and designed byStephane Huot. The Official First Day Cover cancellation site is Montréal, Quebec.