OTTAWA (September 15, 2009) – A fundraising stamp issued last year raised more than $340,000 for the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health. To build on the success of the 2008 stamp and to continue to raise awareness, Canada Post has issued a second fundraising Mental Health stamp. The booklet (of 10 stamps) sells for an additional dollar, which is donated to the Foundation.
Canada Post raised more than $1 million in 2008 for the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health. Through generous donations from the public, Canada Post employees and the company’s suppliers and customers, the Foundation has now allocated 20 grants to projects that directly benefit people affected by mental illness.
“We are continuing our pledge to raise awareness of mental health issues and their direct impact on the lives of so many Canadians,” says Moya Greene, Canada Post’s President and CEO. “The success of last year’s campaign, in what was a very difficult year for many charities, suggests many Canadians are ready to think about mental illness and give it the attention it deserves. This stamp will help us to continue to heighten awareness of mental health issues and raise funds to help those who are dealing with it.”
The stamp, which features natural scenery flowing through the outline of a human figure, was designed by Vancouver’s Signals Design Group. A tree was chosen as the stamp’s central element because it symbolizes health, growth and maturity, all attainable for people affected by mental illness. The shape of the tree refers subtly to the human brain, while the path progresses towards better health and a fulfilled life. “I thought of this as a moment of hope for this individual—a moment when the clouds break and the sun shines through,” explains John Belisle, Creative Director at Signals.
Kosta Tsetsekas, Principal at Signals, elaborates, “Instead of defaulting to a blue, cloudless sky, we opted for an unconventional green. It helps to show that people with mental illness may see the world from a different angle. But different doesn’t mean wrong; in fact, this altered perspective can be creative and beautiful.”
The PERMANENT™ stamp measures 24.75 mm x 35.25 mm (vertical) with simulated perforations. Lowe-Martin printed 3.75 million stamps which will be sold in a booklet of 10 stamps. The self-adhesive stamp will be printed using eight-colour lithography on Tullis Russell paper. The stamps are tagged on all sides. The Official First Day Cover will bear an Ottawa, Ontario cancel, to note the location of the Foundation’s headquarters.
For more information about the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health visit canadapost.ca/takingsteps.
Additional information about Canadian stamps can be found in the News section of Canada Post's website, and photos of these new stamps are also available. Stamps and other products will be available at participating post offices, or can be ordered online by following the links at Canada Post's website canadapost.ca/collection, 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.
