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During the holiday season. we often cherish heartwarming messages of love and hope from friends and family. Nature. too. has its messengers of goodwill. particularly in the form of birds like northern cardinals. blue jays. and evening grosbeaks that brave the Canadian winter. Their vibrant plumage and visits to backyard feeders bring cheer to the season. and across various cultures and traditions. these birds carry special meanings and messages.
As a part of Canada's stamp program. Canada Post has been issuing annual holiday stamps since 1964. reflecting themes that resonate with Canadians. including the joyous holiday season. We offer a choice between stamps featuring secular holiday imagery or traditional sacred Christmas motifs to cater to the diverse preferences of our mailers and collectors.
This Souvenir sheet showcases delightful illustrations by Sandra Dionisi. featuring three birds that spend their winters in Canada: a cardinal (Permanent™ domestic rate). a blue jay (U.S. rate). and an evening grosbeak (international rate).
Good to know
- Great gift for collectors and holiday enthusiasts
- Add a festive touch to your holiday mailings
- About the holiday birds
The cardinal. adorned in festive red. symbolizes transformation and pivotal moments in life. It stands as a beacon of devotion. diversity. and unity. The intelligent and steadfast blue jay often forms lifelong bonds. symbolizing strength. loyalty. and enduring connections. It is also associated with acquiring higher knowledge. The social and family-oriented grosbeak evokes parental feelings and fosters healing. forgiveness. and harmony. especially within family dynamics.
About the design
The three stamps. designed by Sandra Dionisi. depict each bird perched on a branch laden with berries against a backdrop rendition of a blue winter sky. with subtle representations of snowflakes and red berries. The artwork bursts with lively reds. blues. browns. and whites. creating a festive and wintry atmosphere while celebrating the beauty of the natural world during the holiday season.
This marks the first stamp issue by Hambly & Woolley Inc.
Specifications
This souvenir sheet features the five stamps from the Endangered Whales issue, illustrated by David Miller.
This stamp issue features illustrations by David Miller that capture the grace and beauty of these five magnificent mammals swimming past an unseen lens in their underwater environment.
Graceful and intelligent, whales are magnificent marine mammals. This stamp issue celebrates the remarkable beauty and diversity of whales found in Canadian waters. It also raises awareness of the plight of five species – the blue whale, beluga whale, killer whale, northern bottlenose whale and North Atlantic right whale – that have populations assessed as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).
Canada Post has a longstanding tradition of showcasing Canadian wildlife and using stamps to raise awareness of the impacts of human activity on fragile animal populations.
Some populations of these species have been assessed as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Threats vary but include chemical and biological contaminants, stresses caused by noise and physical disturbances, collisions with vessels, entanglement in fishing gear and debris, reduced availability of food, hunting and the impacts of climate change.
At up to 30 metres long, the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is the largest animal on Earth. The species faces a fragile future in both its Atlantic and Pacific populations.
The beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) is well adapted to swimming under ice because it lacks a dorsal fin. It is at risk in the St. Lawrence Estuary, Cumberland Sound and Ungava Bay.
The killer whale (Orcinus orca) is a highly social animal that lives in family-based pods. This species is seeing a steady decline in its southern resident population in the Northeast Pacific.
The northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) is curious by nature. There are only an estimated 164 remaining on the Scotian Shelf, one of its deep-water habitats in the North Atlantic.
The North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) is named for once being an easy and profitable target for hunters. It is disappearing so rapidly that it could soon be extinct, with an estimated 350 individuals remaining worldwide.
Specifications
Stamp Illustrator: David Miller
Issue Date: May 20, 2022
Stamp Value: Permanent™ domestic rate
Quantity Produced: 75,000