Canada Post today unveiled a stamp paying tribute to the country’s search and rescue experts and their willingness to spring into action with skill, determination and courage whenever called upon.
Every year, millions of Canadians and visitors explore this country’s forests, mountains, waterways and oceans while others work daily in remote conditions. Whether in the wilderness for recreation or work, changing weather, human error or other factors can quickly result in these individuals being lost, injured, stranded or otherwise endangered.
Search and rescue experts find, rescue and treat people in life-threatening situations and transport them to safety or advanced medical care as need be. In performing their life-saving duties, search and rescue experts often find themselves in dangerous conditions such as avalanches, extreme weather or high seas.
The third of five “Emergency Responders” stamps was unveiled in Banff, Alta., at a centre for Parks Canada’s mountain safety program. While the stamp portrays a helicopter extraction in the mountains, a wide variety of search and rescue operations are also performed by many Canadian groups, including the Canadian Armed Forces, the Canadian Coast Guard and volunteer organizations across the country. Search and rescue experts also educate Canadians about safety, particularly in wilderness settings.
An official first-day cover was also unveiled today in Alberta.
FIVE-STAMP SET
The other four Emergency Responders stamps pay tribute to paramedics, the Canadian Armed Forces, firefighters and police officers. All five stamps reflect Canadians’ respect and gratitude for the skills, service and sacrifices of those who protect Canadians, sometimes by risking their own lives.
The paramedics stamp was unveiled at the Ambulance New Brunswick headquarters in Fredericton, N.B. on Monday, and a stamp honouring members of the Canadian Armed Forces was unveiled at Base Valcartier in Quebec yesterday.
A stamp honouring firefighters will be revealed in Halifax, N.S. tomorrow, and a stamp paying tribute to police officers will be unveiled in Ottawa on Friday.
The stamps can be purchased on canadapost.ca and at postal outlets across Canada as of Friday, Sept. 14.