2017-11-11 Sat

Canada Post’s stamp program for 2018 was announced on 10th November. Officials stated that the new stamps would enlighten and entertain Canadians by highlighting stories of the people, places, and events that represent the country.

Stamps honouring personalities include Women in Winter Sports, Black History Month, Canadian Illustrators, and Emergency Responders. A new commemorative stamp celebrating 65 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation is also on the cards.

The Black History Month issue will honour Lincoln Alexander (1922-2012) and Kay Livingstone (1919-75). Alexander was the first black member of Parliament, a federal cabinet minister and the 24th lieutenant-governor of Ontario. Livingstone was an activist, humanitarian, broadcaster and actress. Five most accomplished Canadian athletes will be featured on the Women in Winter Sports set. Five life-saving professions would be honoured on stamps from the Emergency Responders set.

A set of nine stamps called “From Far and Wide” will feature places like Jellybean Row in St. John’s, Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Provincial Park, Arctic Bay, and Point Pelee National Park.

Commemorative issues marking the 100th anniversary of the Memorial Cup, and a set of Astronomy stamps for the 150th anniversary of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, have been included in the program.

Two varieties of lotuses will be featured on Flower stamps. Native bees of Canada will be featured on two stamps, sharks in Canadian waters is a set of five stamps, a Bighorn sheep will be depicted on a $3 stamp from the Birds of Canada series, and a Year of the Dog stamp will be released in the Lunar New Year series.

Weather Wonders, Canada Post Community Foundation semipostals and Christmas are other series of stamps that will continue in 2018. The Christmas issues will depict original illustrations of the Nativity along with woolen items.

Two commemorative envelopes include- one that celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind; the other that honours the 100th anniversary of the War Amps.