A stamp tells only half the story... The image and text on a stamp’s cancellation mark can turn a one-in-a-million letter into something very special and unique—a souvenir highly valued by collectors of all kinds. Canada Post is offering 35 unique philatelic pictorial cancels to celebrate the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The cancels, available February 12, represent the Olympic and Paralympic sports, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, the Olympic Villages in Vancouver and Whistler and the Main Media Center in Vancouver.
“Philatelic pictorial cancels are part of a tradition to commemorate the impact of the Games on the host country,” says Jim Phillips, Director of Stamps Services for Canada Post. “This is only the third time in our history that we have produced such a comprehensive collection of Olympic-themed cancels.” The cancels will be available from February 12 to 28 (during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games) and from March 12 to 21 (for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games) at the main post office in Vancouver, selected regional post offices and by mail order at the National Philatelic Center from February 12 until May 21.
Cancellation marks are printed over postage stamps when the mail items they are affixed on enter the mail stream. Canada Post expects they will be very popular with collectors around the world who will want to have their envelopes, postcards and other mail items cancelled with these unique mementos of the 2010 Winter Games. Only the postal service of the Games’ host country is allowed to produce these types of cancels. “These cancels become a keepsake for collectors and Olympic-enthusiasts from around the world,” adds Phillips. “We’ve already had hundreds of inquiries about them and we expect the next few weeks to be very busy.”
For those who will be on site during the Games, the full set of cancels will only be available at the Vancouver Corporate Retail Post Office at 349 West Georgia Street (Monday to Friday, February 12 to 26, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays, February 13 and 20, between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.). Select cancels will be available at corporate post offices near Olympic venues as listed below from February 12 to 26 and from March 12 to 21. Note that the Whistler post office will be open for extended hours during the Games.
Speed Skating
Available at the Richmond Main Post Office: 7871 Westminster Hwy, Richmond, BC (V6Y 1A0)
Freestyle Aerials, Freestyle Moguls, Freestyle Ski Cross, Snowboard Halfpipe, Snowboard Cross, Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom
Available at the West Vancouver Post Office: 1427 Bellevue Avenue, West Vancouver, BC V7T 1C0.
Curling, Figure Skating, Ice Hockey, Short Track Speed Skating, Opening / Closing Ceremonies, Mascot
Available at Vancouver Station D: 2405 Pine Street, Vancouver, BC V6J 3E0
Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Bobsleigh, Cross Country Skiing, Luge, Nordic Combined, Skeleton, Ski Jump
Available at the Whistler Main Post Office: 106-4360 Lorimer Ave, Whistler, BC V0N 1BO
Your cancel requests should be sent to:
National Philatelic Centre
75 St. Ninian Street
Antigonish NS B2G 2R8
The NPC’s normal procedures and fees will apply. To obtain a specific cancel (please identify in your request), simply send your stamped envelopes or covers with proper postage (57¢ minimum) inside a stamped envelope addressed to the National Philatelic Centre. Be sure to enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for return mailing.
For additional information and a look at all Canada Post’s Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games cancels, visit canadapost.ca/collecting.
