March 27, 2007
Saskatoon - On April 3, Canada Post will issue a commemorative stamp to celebrate the University of Saskatchewan's centenary. This domestic rate stamp (52-cents) is the latest edition in the post-secondary schools series launched in 2003.
Royal assent was given in 1907 to the legislation which created the University of Saskatchewan; 100 years later, 58 degrees, diplomas, and certificates in over 100 areas of study and disciplines are offered. The University has been home to numerous innovations, such as Canada's first departments of Slavic Studies and Drama; Canada's first Native Law Centre; the world's first non-commercial Cobalt-60 cancer therapy unit; and Canada's largest science project in a generation, The Canadian Light Source.
In 1909, the enrolment totalled 70 students. In the fall of 2006, approximately 19,400 students were registered. With some 7,000 faculty and staff, today over 25,000 people could be on campus known as "the city within a city" at any one time. Summing up the current prevailing feeling, the University's president, Peter MacKinnon, said, "As we celebrate our successes with pride and anticipate our future with excitement, we are ready to expand on the original vision of our founders. Having built a world-class University on the banks of a prairie river, our mission now is to engage fully in all we do, to enlighten all we serve, and to explore all aspects of our world."
The Collegiate Gothic architecture and the institution's commitment to stone have set the campus apart. The main building on campus knows as The College Building, has been designated as both a national historic site and a provincial heritage property. Capturing the University's architectural cornerstone posed certain obstacles for photographer Guy Lavigueur and designer Denis L'Allier. In order to get the desired photograph, the sun had to be positioned behind the building, creating a soft light. A mere two hours were left to take the picture once the October frost melted from the roof. L'Allier then digitally enhanced the soft details, aiming to capture the intricate fine points of the architecture with special focus on the windows. "The windows," L'Allier says, "are so present; I tried to put the emphasis there."
The stamp features the same elements as earlier vignettes; the campus' main building; the coat of arms with the institution's colours, green and yellow in this instance, and a white and yellow vertical band. In addition to the post-secondary stamp series, L'Allier also designed the stamps dedicated to the World Congress of Public Services International (2002), the Summit of the Americas (2001), Petro-Canada (2000) and Weather Observation (1990).
The 36 mm x 45 mm (vertical) self-adhesive stamp will be printed using six-colour lithography on Tullis Russell paper. Lowe-Martin has printed 2.5 million stamps available in booklets of eight; they are general tagged on four sides. The Official First Day Cover will bear the cancel SASKATOON SK.
More information on this stamp is available in the Newsroom section of the Canada Post Web site; a high-resolution photo of the commemorative stamp is available in the Photo Centre of the Newsroom. The stamp and Official First Day Cover will be available at participating post offices, online following the links on the Canada Post Web site or by mail from the National Philatelic Centre. From Canada or the United States, call toll-free 1 800 565-4362; from other countries call 902 863-6550.
