2021 CSN Stamp Survey

Thank you for participating in the 2021 CSN Stamp Survey, our first in a decade. By voicing your opinion, you’re providing great insights into Canadian philately.

Hey, what do you think of Canada’s stamp program?

For the past 181 years worldwide (and 170 years in present-day Canada, which issued its first stamp in 1851), these small bits of paper have done much more than merely adorn mail.

Stamps make myths, and they build nations. They sometimes deliver propaganda, but no matter what, they always tell a story. Like a country’s flag or anthem, stamps serve as a vehicle for national symbolism—but the main difference between a stamp and an anthem is the latter is set in stone but the former offers many opportunities (more than a dozen each year in Canada) to shape a country’s evolving sense of self.

In that spirit, CSN has revived its annual stamp survey. It’s our first survey in about a decade, and in that time, so much has changed. When we announced the results of our last survey in 2011 (“Blue whale swims away with favourite stamp title,” CSN Vol. 36 #14), Instagram was only a year old, Snapchat was still to be launched and Canada Post was on strike—OK, maybe some things never change.

Now, as we strive to keep our finger on the pulse of Canadian philately, the 2021 CSN Stamp Survey includes 11 questions focusing on last year’s stamp program plus your stamp-buying habits and membership status.

March update: The 2021 CSN Stamp Survey has been extended until April 18. Participants can continue voicing their opinions through April 18 at 9 p.m., when the polls will close.

A full review will be published in a future issue of CSN.

PREVIEW THE QUESTIONS

Before you review last year’s stamp program, take a look at the 2021 CSN Stamp Survey questions, which you can respond to at the bottom of the page (below the stamp program).

The survey closed April 18.

1. What is the best-designed Canadian stamp of 2020?
2. What is the worst designed Canadian stamp of 2020?
3. What is the most relevant Canadian issue of 2020?
4. What is the least relevant Canadian issue of 2020?
5. What is your overall favourite Canadian stamp of 2020?
6. Do you purchase stamps online or at a post office?
7. In your experience, does your local post office have new stamps in stock within their first week of issue?
8. Do you buy each new stamp issued by Canada Post?
9. Do you collect anything other than new issues (i.e., classic stamps, covers, postcards, coins, etc.)?
10. Are you a member of a stamp club?
11. Do you subscribe to CSN?

Your responses will help the philatelic community understand current hobby trends. The results will be shared in a future issue of CSN.

REVIEW THE 2020 STAMP PROGRAM

Last year’s stamp program, which can be viewed in the gallery below, included:

• nine stamps from the third “From Far and Wide” set, issued on Jan. 13;
• two stamps issued on Jan. 17 for the Year of the Rat, rounding out Canada Post’s second and final 12-year Lunar New Year series;
• a “Colored Hockey Championship” stamp issued on Jan. 24 to mark Black History Month;
• two dahlia stamps issued on March 2;
• a single Eid stamp issued on April 24;
• two V-E Day stamps issued on April 29;
• seven Group of Seven stamps issued on May 7;
• two stamps issued on May 20 to mark 100 years of Canadian radio history;
• five “Medical Groundbreakers” stamps issued on Sept. 10;
• a single Community Foundation semi-postal stamp issued on Sept. 21;
• a single Diwali stamp issued on Oct. 15;
• a single stamp issued on Oct. 28 to commemorate First World War artist Mary Riter Hamilton;
• three secular holiday stamps plus one Christmas stamp issued on Nov. 2; and
• a single Hanukkah stamp issued on Nov. 5.

The survey is closed as of April 18 at 9 p.m. (ET).

Thank you for participating in our 2021 Stamp Survey!