2017-03-29 Wed

The 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge was celebrated by Canada on 22nd March with the release of a joint issue stamp-design with France at the French Embassy in Ottawa. The stamps will be released on 8th April. The battle was fought from 9th to 12th April 1917 in Northern France. Canada’s victory in this battle was historical making it more independent as a young nation. Thousands of Canadians sacrificed their lives which ultimately led to the country’s independence. The stamps feature the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France as a mark of tribute to all those brave soldiers.

Canadian National Vimy Memorial is located on Hill 145, facing the Canadian battlefield of 1917. The monument was built in 11 years, it cost $1.5 million and was inaugurated on 26th July 1936 by King Edward VIII. President Albert Lebrun of France was also present at the opening ceremony along with more than 50,000 Canadian and French Veterans and their families.

Elements of the memorial like a statue of a grieving man, twin pylons representing the Canadian and French forces, some of the 11,285 names of Canadian martyrs, inscribed on walls at the site are featured on Canada’s non-denominated permanent-rate (85¢) stamp. The ridge behind the monument is shown in the background.

The 1.30 French stamp features the statue Canada Bereft or Mother Canada. Flags of both the countries are also depicted. Canadian Souvenir sheets include both stamp designs, with the selvage featuring some more images from the memorial.

In the Canadian souvenir sheet, the two designs are shown on $2.50 international-rate stamps, and the French sheet includes the 1.30 stamp and a 0.85 stamp depicting the Canadian design. Two first day covers are also available, one with the permanent-rate booklet stamp, and one with both the Canadian and French stamps.