OTTAWA, September 20, 2005 -- If you're feeling Nedly because your
backside Ollie was gravical... then new stamps being issued by Canada Post
next month will be right up your alley (no pun intended!). If the last
sentence meant anything to you, then you must be a skateboarder, snowboarder,
mountain biker or wall climber, or you know someone who is. In celebration of
stamp collecting month, Canada Post will issue four stamps showcasing the
youth sports of skateboarding, snowboarding, mountain biking and wall
climbing. The 50-cent stamps will be available for sale in post offices across
the country on October 1, 2005.
The four sports featured on these fun stamps are all relatively new to
the sporting scene, yet each has made an impact in the sporting world,
attracting legions of fans and devotees.
October is celebrated around the globe as the month when collectors
celebrate the fun of collecting stamps. Most postal administrations issue
stamps with a youth-oriented theme. Past Canada Post stamp collecting month
issues have highlighted fun and educational themes such as astronauts, pets,
cartoon superheroes and clowns.
"These stamps, with their colourful and action-packed designs, are sure
to appeal to young Canadians," said the Honourable John McCallum, Minister
responsible for Canada Post. "In this, the International Year of Sport and
Physical Education, I hope that these stamps will encourage kids to look at
the benefits of being involved with sports and with stamp collecting."
Canadian school children will be invited to show-off their best sporting
moves in a stamp month contest. By sending in a picture of themselves
participating in their favourite sport, they could win $500.00 toward the
purchase of the sporting gear of their choice and have their picture featured
on their own Picture Postage(TM) stamp. Details at www.popmagazine.com .
The stamps were designed by Winnipeg's Circle Design. Robert L. Peters,
founder of Circle Design, says the stamps reflect the excitement found in
these sports. "Their major appeal for youth is their 'counter-culture' and non-
conformist stance. Each is associated with 'attitude' that is expressed
through distinct fashions, colours, and graphics," Peters said. "It was this
perspective that we detailed with the dramatic, angled presentation and
related colours. Illustrated with exaggerated perspective, the stamps work
well in combination and also on their own."
Available for sale at post offices across the country on October 1, 2005,
they will be sold in a booklet of eight self-adhesive stamps. Lowe-Martin
printed 4 million of the stamps, using 7-colour lithography on Tullis Russell
Coatings paper with printed bars tagging. The Official First Day Cover will
read: Whistler, B.C.
Additional information about Canadian stamps can be found in the Newsroom
section of Canada Post's website, and a downloadable high-resolution photo of
the Youth stamps is in the Newsroom's Photo Centre. Stamps and Official First
Day Covers will be available at participating post offices, can be ordered
online by following the links at Canada Post's website www.canadapost.ca , or
by mail-order from the National Philatelic Centre. From Canada and the USA
call toll-free: 1-800-565-4362 and from other countries call: (902) 863-6550.
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For further information:
Cindy Daoust
Ottawa, Ontario
Tel.: (613) 734-4258
E-mail: href="mailto:cindy.daoust@canadapost.ca">cindy.daoust@canadapost.ca
