Canada Post has released three new stamp issues honouring Chinese Canadian wartime service and celebrating the upcoming festive season.
The Remembrance Day stamp, recognizing members of Force 136, was issued Nov. 4, while the 2026 holiday and Christmas stamps were released Nov. 2.
The Remembrance Day issue pays tribute to approximately 150 Chinese Canadians who volunteered for dangerous secret Allied operations in Asia during the Second World War, despite facing racial discrimination at home. The stamp was unveiled Nov. 3 at the Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver, with family members and friends of those who served attending the ceremony.
Beginning in 1944, Chinese Canadians were recruited for Force 136, part of Britain’s Special Operations Executive, and Australia’s Services Reconnaissance Department. They underwent specialized training in espionage, guerrilla warfare and jungle survival before undertaking missions to gather intelligence, support resistance movements and conduct sabotage operations behind Japanese lines.
Their service helped advance the Allied war effort and contributed to the campaign for equal rights in Canada. At the time, Chinese Canadians faced significant restrictions, including being denied the right to vote. The Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed in 1947, the same year Chinese Canadians gained federal voting rights.
Designed by Toronto-based Clear Space, the Permanent domestic-rate stamp features a black-and-white photograph of Chinese Canadian soldiers awaiting repatriation in 1945, overlaid with the red phoenix insignia of Force 136. Printed by Colour Innovations, the issue includes a booklet of six stamps, a pane of five and an official first day cover (OFDC) cancelled in Vancouver.
HOLIDAY ISSUES
Canada Post’s 2026 holiday and Christmas stamps, released Nov. 2, feature intricate snowflakes inspired by close-up photography and an angel from a historic church mural in Chéticamp, N.S. (Canada Post images)
Meanwhile, Canada Post’s Nov. 2 releases feature two interpretations of the festive season. The holiday stamps showcase intricate snowflakes inspired by extreme close-up photography by Don Komarechka, with illustrations by Manantsoa Razafimandimby. The icy-blue designs appear on three denominations – Permanent domestic, U.S. and international – and are available in a booklet and souvenir sheet. The OFDC is cancelled in Bonne Bay, N.L.
The Christmas stamp features an angel from a historic mural surrounding the altar of St. Peter’s Church in Chéticamp, N.S. Created by artist Mario Mauro, the image depicts an angel with hands gathered in prayer and wings extended. Designed by Jocelyne Saulnier of Joce Creative, the Permanent domestic-rate stamp is available in a booklet of 10, with a first-day cancellation in Chéticamp featuring the Star of Bethlehem.
Canada Post has issued Christmas and holiday stamps since 1964, offering both religious and secular designs since 2005. All three new issues were printed by Colour Innovations and are available through Canada Post. For more extensive coverage of these releases, including design details and philatelic products, watch for an upcoming print edition of Canadian Stamp News.