[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Annual Flower Stamp Issue Features Delicate Blossoms of Ornamental Cherry Trees
Bestselling issue often used for wedding stationery, popular among Canadian gardeners

VANCOUVER – A joyful sign of spring, cherry blossoms create spectacular canopies of colour during their blooming season. The fragrant flowers leave behind a delicate carpet of petals, symbolic of beauty and the transience of life. Cherry trees, both wild and cultivated, are found in many parts of the world, and many are native to the Northern Hemisphere.

This stamp issue features two cherry blossom cultivars. Prunus ‘Kanzan’, cold-hardy and with large deep-pink double flowers, is one of the most popular Japanese cherry cultivars for blossom viewing in North America and Europe. Shrouded in clusters of white to pale-pink petals, the prolific?Prunus?‘Somei-yoshino’ is the focus of celebrations across Japan and other parts of East Asia.

In Japan, sakura (as cherry blossoms are called) are the inspiration for national celebrations. In Canada, dazzling displays can be found along city streets and in many parks and gardens across the country. Vancouver boasts thousands of specimens and hosts one of the country’s largest cherry blossom festivals.

About the stamp design
The two stamps feature original photographs of the cherry blossoms taken at the Nitobe Memorial Garden at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. The stamps are designed by Belisle Creative, featuring photography by Brett Hitchins, and printed by Lowe-Martin. The issue includes a booklet of 10 Permanent™ stamps, a coil of 50 stamps, a souvenir sheet and an Official First Day Cover cancelled in Vancouver.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Les timbres floraux de cette année mettent en vedette les délicates fleurs de cerisiers ornementaux
L’émission annuelle sur les fleurs est toujours très prisée pour les faire-part de mariage, en plus d’être appréciée des adeptes de jardinage.

VANCOUVER – Signes du printemps, les fleurs de cerisier forment des canopées colorées spectaculaires. Ces fleurs parfumées, qui laissent derrière elles un délicat tapis de pétales, symbolisent la beauté et le caractère éphémère de la vie. On trouve une grande variété d’espèces sauvages et cultivées de cerisiers dans de nombreuses régions du monde, et plusieurs sont indigènes de l’hémisphère Nord.

Cette émission met en vedette deux cultivars de cerisiers. Résistant au froid et prisé en raison de ses grandes fleurs doubles rose foncé, le Prunus ?Kanzan? est  l’un des cultivars japonais les plus populaires en Amérique du Nord et en Europe. Couvert de grappes de fleurs blanches ou rose pâle, le prolifique Prunus ?Somei-yoshino? est la vedette de célébrations au Japon et ailleurs en Asie de l’Est.

Appelées sakura au Japon, les fleurs de cerisier inspirent des célébrations nationales. Au Canada, on peut admirer le spectacle en bordure de rues et dans bon nombre de parcs et de jardins. Vancouver abrite des milliers de spécimens et tient l’un des plus grands festivals de cerisiers en fleurs du pays.

À propos des timbres
Les deux timbres sont ornés de photos originales de fleurs de cerisier prises au Nitobe Memorial Garden de l’Université de la Colombie-Britannique à Vancouver. Imprimés par Lowe-Martin, ils sont conçus par Belisle Creative et présentent des photographies de Brett Hitchins. L’émission comprend un carnet de 10 timbres PermanentsMC, un rouleau de 50 timbres, un bloc-feuillet et un pli Premier Jour officiel oblitéré à Vancouver.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New stamp set pays tribute to hip-hop trailblazers Maestro Fresh Wes, Michie Mee and Muzion
This year’s Black History Month stamps celebrate early hip-hop in Canada

TORONTO – On January 28, 2026, Canada Post unveiled a new Black History Month stamp set celebrating the vibrant roots of hip-hop in Canada. The stamps pay tribute to three of the country’s most dynamic hip-hop trailblazers – Maestro Fresh Wes, Michie Mee and Muzion. Each of the artists is recognized for helping to shape the genre in Canada, while infusing the music with a uniquely Canadian sound.

Maestro Fresh Wes
With his 1989 debut album Symphony in Effect, Maestro Fresh Wes (b. Wesley Williams, 1968) became the first Canadian MC to break into the mainstream. The album’s monster hit single “Let Your Backbone Slide” was the first Canadian rap song to go gold, while the album itself went platinum. In 1991, the JUNO Awards introduced a new category, Best Rap Recording – Symphony in Effect took the win. Over his career, Maestro released nine studio albums and became an author, actor and motivational speaker. In 2024, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.

Michie Mee
Michie Mee (b. Michelle McCullock, 1970) was Canada’s first hip-hop superstar and built a reputation for continually pushing boundaries. The iconic MC exploded onto the scene in the late 1980s and was among the first to bring Jamaican Patois into her rhymes. In 1987, she released her debut single “Elements of Style,” which was an instant hit. A year later, she became the first Canadian MC to sign with a major U.S. label. In 1991, she released her first album, Jamaican Funk – Canadian Style, which combined rap with dancehall and reggae. Later that decade, she joined Raggadeath, a group known for fusing heavy metal and reggae.

Muzion
Hailing from Montréal, Muzion brought a distinct sound to the world of hip-hop, layering French, English and Haitian Creole into their music. The group was formed in 1996 by MCs J.Kyll (Jenny Salgado), Imposs (Stanley Salgado), and Dramatik (Jocelyn Bruno). Their two albums Mentalité moune morne… (Ils n’ont pas compris) (1999) and J’rêvolutionne (2002) received multiple honours, including Félix Awards for Hip-Hop Album of the Year. Their hit single “La vi ti nèg” won a 2004 Canadian Urban Music Award. Muzion’s influence stretched into the wider culture. The trio, who were all born to Haitian parents, helped empower marginalized communities to see themselves as integral to the fabric of Quebec and Canada.

About the stamps
This stamp set is a shout-out to the vibrant roots of hip-hop in Canada. The titles are crafted using varied type sizes, echoing the rhythmic nature of hip-hop’s sound. Printed with fluorescent inks that glow under black light, metallic silver and black duotone portraits, and layered matte and gloss varnishes, these stamps evoke the bold, nostalgic aesthetic of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The stamps were designed by Noël Nanton and Nadia Molinari of typotherapy. Various photographs were used in this set: Maestro Fresh Wes – Wellington Williams; background – Edward James Rissling. Michie Mee – Getty Images; background – Rick McGinnis. Muzion – Brigitte Henry; background – Marie-Michèle Bouchard.

The issue, which was printed by Lowe-Martin, includes six Permanent™ stamps and three Official First Day Covers. The cancel sites are Toronto for Maestro Fresh Wes and Michie Mee, and Montréal for Muzion.

Stamps and collectibles will be available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada beginning on January 28, 2026.

Technical Details:
Product: Hip-Hop in Canada (2026): booklet of 6 Permanent™ stamps
Article: 414308111
Quantity: 130,000 booklets of six Permanent™ stamps
Printing process: Lithography in 5 colours, Matte Aqueous & Gloss Varnish
Price: $7.44

Product: Hip-Hop in Canada (2026) – Maestro Fresh Wes: Official First Day Cover
Article: 414308131
Quantity: 6,000
Cancel: Toronto, Ontario
Price: $2.24

Product: Hip-Hop in Canada (2026) – Michie Mee: Official First Day Cover
Article: 414309131
Quantity: 6,000
Cancel: Toronto, Ontario
Price: $2.24

Product: Hip-Hop in Canada (2026) – Muzion: Official First Day Cover
Article: 414310131
Quantity: 6,000
Cancel: Montréal, Quebec
Price: $2.24

Design: Noël Nanton, Nadia Molinari | typotherapy
Printer: Lowe-Martin The Concert Hall in Toronto, Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Photo by Andrew Williamson Photography, provided by Canada Post.

The artists react to being commemorated on these stamps:

The artists talk about their music:

Maestro Fresh Wes, Michie Mee and Muzion talk about the early days of hip-hop in Canada:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
2026 stamp lineup celebrates Canadian hip-hop, a sweet and timeless Quebec tradition, and much more
Canada Post captures the spirit of Canada through the people, events and stories featured in upcoming stamp issues

OTTAWA – Today Canada Post announced its 2026 stamp lineup, which features several milestones, people and cultural events that have helped define Canadian identity.

Here are some highlights:

• Next year’s annual Black History Month stamp dives into the careers and achievements of Canadian hip-hop pioneers.
• Colourful scenes from the temps des sucres (sugaring-off season) and Quebec’s cabanes à sucre (sugar shacks) – traditions that are part of the intangible heritage of Quebec – grace these stamps.
• The popular Places of Pride issue returns, remembering significant events and locations across Canada that 2SLGBTQIA+ people fought to make their own.
• A new stamp commemorates the 100th anniversary of The Royal Canadian Legion, known for its National Poppy Campaign and roughly 1,350 branches that serve as community hubs across the country.
• A fascinating look at four wolf species found across Canada.
• In response to a growing demand for blood donations, a new stamp raises awareness and encourages Canadians to give.
• A set of three eerie jack-o’-lanterns help kick off October’s spooky season.

The list of new stamps also includes the continuation of several popular annual series with a fresh take for 2026:

• New Truth and Reconciliation stamps commemorate Orange Shirt Day.
  • The annual flower series showcases the delicate blooms of ornamental cherry blossoms.
  • A stamp raising funds for the Canada Post Community Foundation aims to deliver a brighter future for children and youth.
  • For Remembrance Day, a new design commemorates the service of Chinese Canadians sent on secret missions behind Japanese lines in Asia.
  • Unique stamps celebrate the holidays of Eid, Diwali, Hanukkah and Christmas.

  Individually, the stamps tell their own rich stories. Collectively, they paint a bigger picture of what makes Canada special. The independent Stamp Advisory Committee recommends subjects for the annual program, and members rely on thoughtful input from groups and individuals to choose subjects that capture important themes and histories that reflect the shared values of Canadians nationwide.

  [en Francais pour les médias d’information]
  Le programme des timbres-poste de 2026 célèbre le hip-hop canadien, une délicieuse tradition québécoise et plus encore
  Postes Canada saisit l’esprit du pays à travers les personnes, les événements et les histoires dont parlent ses prochaines émissions de timbres.

  OTTAWA – Aujourd’hui, Postes Canada a dévoilé son programme de timbres-poste de 2026 qui inclura des personnes, des moments marquants et des événements culturels qui aident à définir l’identité canadienne.

  En voici les points saillants :

  • Le timbre annuel du Mois de l’histoire des Noirs saluera la carrière et les réalisations de pionniers et pionnières du hip-hop canadien.
  • Des timbres illustreront par des scènes colorées le temps des sucres et la cabane à sucre, des traditions inscrites au patrimoine immatériel du Québec.
  • La très populaire émission de timbres sur les Lieux de la Fierté sera de retour, nous rappelant les événements et endroits importants au Canada pour lesquels la communauté 2ELGBTQIA+ s’est battue.
  • Un nouveau timbre commémoratif soulignera le 100e anniversaire de la Légion royale canadienne, connue pour sa Campagne nationale du Coquelicot et ses quelque 1 350 filiales qui servent de carrefours communautaires à l’échelle du pays.
  • Des timbres jetteront un regard fascinant sur quatre espèces de loups que l’on retrouve au Canada.
  • Un nouveau timbre sensibilisera la population canadienne à la demande croissante pour les dons de sang et l’encouragera à se retrousser les manches.
  • Un trio de citrouilles illuminées donnera le coup d’envoi à l’effrayante saison d’octobre.

  La liste des nouveaux timbres comprend également la suite de plusieurs séries annuelles populaires, revampées pour 2026 :

  • De nouveaux timbres sur la vérité et la réconciliation en commémoration de la Journée du chandail orange.
  • Les délicates fleurs de cerisiers ornementaux pour la série annuelle sur les fleurs.
  • Un timbre philanthropique pour la Fondation communautaire de Postes Canada dont l’objectif est d’offrir un avenir meilleur aux enfants et aux jeunes du pays.
  • Pour le jour du Souvenir, un timbre commémoratif au sujet du service des Canadiens d’origine chinoise envoyés en mission secrète derrière les lignes japonaises en Asie.
  • Des vignettes uniques pour célébrer l’Aïd, Diwali, Hanoukka et Noël.

  Individuellement, chaque timbre raconte une riche histoire. Ensemble, ils brossent le tableau de ce qui rend le Canada unique. Le Comité consultatif sur les timbres-poste, qui travaille de façon indépendante, recommande les sujets du programme annuel, en s’appuyant sur la contribution réfléchie de groupes et de particuliers pour choisir des histoires et des thèmes importants qui reflètent les valeurs de la population canadienne.