February 7, 2007
Ottawa - On February 12, 2007, Canada Post will issue two domestic rate stamps to mark the Fourth International Polar Year and to recognize Canada's concern for the future of polar ecosystems and Arctic society.
The International Polar Year (IPY) is a large scientific program focused on the Arctic and the Antarctic from March 2007 to March 2009. During the two last decades, Alaska, Siberia and parts of the Antarctic Peninsula have been the three fastest-warming regions on the planet. According to the World Meteorological Organiziation, this event is a huge, exciting scientific campaign focusing on the polar regions. It is also an unprecedented opportunity to demonstrate, follow, and get involved with, cutting edge science in real-time.
The animals depicted on these stamps are true Arctic dwellers. Peter Scott, creative designer of q30design, says they were chosen "because of their appropriateness to the region." One stamp shows a recently discovered brilliant-red deep-sea jellyfish; the other features a male King Eider bird with a bright orange bill, light grey crown and pale, emerald-green cheeks. The Toronto-based studio also worked on the Collection Canada 2003, 2004 & 2005 books, as well as the Mountain stamps.
This event is particularly important because it marks the 150th anniversary of the first International Polar Year. Canada has participated in all events since the beginning and continues to play a role in this scientific endeavour in its capacity as a northern nation. The Polar Regions are remote areas that are of great significance to the Earth's climate. There have been a number of major international scientific initiatives in these regions since the first IPY and all have contributed to the global understanding of the climatological processes in these areas. The scientific community believes that if the global temperatures rise by only two degrees above pre-industrial levels, the planet and its habitants could be affected adversely. Temperatures are on the rise: 2006 was the sixth warmest year on record (averaging 0.4 degrees above the 1961 to 1990 average).
The two-stamp release is a joint project with seven other countries: the United States, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark, Finland and Greenland. A limited number of mini-packs, containing souvenir sheets from the eight countries will be available to collectors on a first-come, first-served basis at a cost of $29.99. Lowe-Martin printed four million stamps; 350,000 souvenir sheets of two; and 5,000 gutter strips of eight. The stamps in the 16-stamp panes measure 40 mm x 30 mm (horizontal), and those in the souvenir sheets 105 mm x 70 mm (horizontal). The stamps will be printed using lithography in 9 colours and PVA gum on Tullis Russell Coatings paper. They are general tagged on all sides, with 13+ perforations. The Official First Day Cover will read: IGLOOLIK NU.
Additional information about Canadian stamps can be found in the Newsroom section of Canada Post's website, and downloadable high-resolution photos of the International Polar Year 2007 stamps are 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.
