March 4, 2008
Ottawa - On March 7th, 2008, Canada Post will pay tribute to the University of Alberta's centenary by issuing a domestic rate (52-cent) stamp.
The creation of the University of Alberta (U of A) was closely tied to the establishment of Alberta as a province. Alexander Rutherford, Alberta's first premier, introduced the University Act in 1906, during the first sitting of the Alberta legislature.
Under the visionary leadership of its first president, Henry Marshall Tory, the U of A opened its doors in the fall of 1908 as a public institution founded, in his words, for "the uplifting of the whole people." Women were admitted from the very beginning, an uncommon practice at the time. The U of A has since grown into one of the foremost research universities in Canada and abroad. "As we stand on the threshold of our second century and survey the accomplishments of the University of Alberta and its graduates, I think Tory would be very proud," said U of A President Indira Samarasekera. "The University is known for challenging conventional thinking and enabling people to reach their highest potential. We will mark our centenary through a year-long reflection and celebration of these achievements that have transformed lives in Canada and worldwide, but we will also look to the future. We anticipate what lies ahead and strive to influence the world through teaching, research, and good works; and to remain a university dedicated to greatness for the benefit of all people."
The stamp features the school's Dentistry/Pharmacy Centre rendered in green and golden yellow, showcasing the university in a contemporary illustration style. The University's signature colours of green and gold were adopted in the fall of 1908 to reflect the gold of autumn leaves and the deep green of the abundant spruces and pines surrounding campus.
"We tried to blend the physical place with the futuristic and energetic feeling of growth, change, and possibility that this institution represents," said stamp artist Susan Mavor of Vancouver's Metaform Communication Design. A challenge for Mavor is the fact that these stamps are considerably smaller in size than the previous university stamp issues.
The 52-cent stamp measures 30.75 mm x 23.25 mm (horizontal) with simulated perforation. Lowe-Martin printed 1.5 million stamps which will be sold in booklets of eight. The self-adhesive stamp will be printed using lithography in eight colours on Tullis Russel paper. They are general tagged on all sides. The Official First Day Cover will bear the cancel EDMONTON AB. Also available is a special gutter strip of eight-stamps featuring the University of Alberta and the University of British Columbia who are both celebrating their centenary.
More information on this commemorative stamp is available in the Newsroom section of the Canada Post Web site; and a photo of the stamp can be found 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 (www.canadapost.ca) 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. For more information on cetenary activities, visit www.100years.ualberta.ca.
