The sixth of 10 Canada 150-themed stamps issued as part of Canada Post’s ongoing commemorative program will be unveiled at City Hall in St. John’s, Nfld. this Thursday.
On May 25, this latest unveiling—to be attended by Judith Fox, the sister of legendary Canadian humanitarian Terry Fox—will honour “one of the most identifiable and cherished events in Canadian history,” according to organizers. The unveiling is slated to take place between 11 a.m. and noon at 10 New Gower St. in St. John’s.
TERRY FOX TRIBUTE
On April 12, 1980, in St. John’s, Nfld., a 21-year-old Fox dipped his artificial foot in the Atlantic Ocean to begin his cross-country journey to raise awareness and money for cancer research. His 5,373-kilometre “Marathon of Hope” is commemorated at the Terry Fox Mile 0 Site, which includes a life-like bronze sculpture of Fox where he began his marathon 27 years ago. The monument is located behind the St. John’s Port Authority building at 1 Water St., just down the road from City Hall.
This 30-cent stamp was issued by Canada Post in 1982, less than one year after Fox died in British Columbia—more than 5,000 kilometres from his starting point in St. John’s, Nfld.
PREVIOUS TERRY FOX STAMPS
Canada Post has previously issued two stamps in commemoration of Fox and his achievements. The first—issued April 13, 1982, less than a year after his death—was a 40-cent stamp (Scott #915) designed by Vancouver graphic artist Friedrich Peter, a former professor at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design.
More recently, in January 2000, Canada Post honoured Fox on a 46-cent stamp as part of its Millennium Collection.
UNVEILING SCHEDULE
The first stamp of the Canada 150 series was unveiled in Montréal on April 27 by Habitat 67 architect Moshe Safdie in commemoration of Expo 67. The second stamp, this in celebration of the Constitution and Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, was unveiled on May 3 on Parliament Hill. The following day, the series’ third stamp was unveiled by Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The fourth stamp, this honouring the 2005 passing of the Civil Marriage Act, was unveiled May 8 in Toronto. The fifth stamp of the Canada 150 series was unveiled on May 16 in commemoration of the Trans-Canada Highway.
Fox was also commemorated on this 46-cent stamp issued as part of Canada Post’s Millennium Collection in 2000.
The three remaining unveilings are slated for:
- May 30 in Iqaluit, Nunavut;
- May 31 in Winnipeg, Man.; and
- June 1 in Vancouver, B.C., where the program’s final two stamps will be unveiled.
The entire set will be available for purchase in post offices across the country as well as online on June 1 (although pre-ordering is open now).
For more information about each release, visit canadapost.ca/canada150.
OTHER COMING ISSUES
On Tuesday, May 23, Canada Post is also slated to unveil an Eid stamp in Richmond Hill and Montréal at 6:30 p.m.