Canadian stamp stories

In December 2007, Canada Post issued a new stamp featuring Queen Elizabeth II. The latest royal definitive is based on a photograph taken in Saskatoon during the 2005 Royal Visit to Canada.

As Queen of Canada, Her Majesty has a long and proud association with this country. In 1951, as Princess Elizabeth, she made her first visit to Canada; since her coronation in 1952, Queen Elizabeth has made more than 20 official visits here.

The 2005 Royal Visit covered nine days and included stops in Lumsden, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary and Fort McMurray. A group of schoolchildren from Bjorkdale, Saskatchewan, eager to travel the more than 200 kilometres to Saskatoon for the visit, came up with a novel fundraising idea to help pay for their trip: they created a quilt bearing the Royal Cypher. The quilt is featured on the back of the official first day cover.

Designs for the stamp and first day cover are the work of Doreen Colonello of Gottschalk+Ash International. "The core of the design comes from a photograph taken by Ottawa's Headlight Inc. during the Royal Visit and given to me by the Department of Canadian Heritage," says Doreen Colonello. "I worked with a neutral abstract background that subtly complements and echoes the colour in the Queen's feathered hat and lovely jacket trim."

Over the years, many different likenesses of Queen Elizabeth II have appeared on Canadian stamps. In recent years, the images have been less formal and often portray the Queen as relaxed and engaging. The latest image, a PERMANENT^TM domestic rate stamp, shows the Queen's genteel smile, as she enjoys her face-to-face meetings with Canadians.