Canadian stamp stories

Canada Post is proud to issue a new semi-postal fundraising stamp. A one-dollar donation from each booklet sold – and 10 cents from each Official First Day Cover (OFDC) – go directly to the Canada Post Community Foundation, which delivers a brighter future to Canadian children and youth. Funds raised through stamp sales, along with generous donations from customers and employees, have allowed the Foundation to grant $4 million to 325 community projects since 2013.

Earlier in 2015, the Foundation handed almost $1.2 million to 107 community initiatives, including a summer camp for young people with special needs, teen mental-health support and crisis counselling, specialized equipment for children with severe disabilities, homework help, playgrounds, and breakfast and literacy programs.

This year’s stamp, designed by Context Creative’s Lionel Gadoury and illustrated by Marie-Eve Tremblay, depicts the power of storytelling and the freedom to pretend. In an imaginary tent formed by a bed sheet, one youngster reads to another, demonstrating that a rich imagination should be part of every child’s life. The OFDC, which is reminiscent of a colouring book, is intended to bring out the artist in all of us.