New National Stamp Collection on display at the Canadian Museum of Civilization

Gatineau, Quebec, July 1, 2002 — A new exhibition was inaugurated this morning at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in the presence of the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, Prime Minister of Canada. Reflections of Canada – The National Stamp Collection is the first exhibition to present all the stamps ever issued in Canada, including those issued by provinces before they joined Confederation. This project is the result of an unprecedented three-way partnership between the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Canada Post and the National Archives of Canada.

“Not only can visitors admire this beautiful collection for the first time, but the exhibition provides a unique opportunity to revisit Canadian history through the 2,300 stamps in the national stamp collection,” said Dr. Victor Rabinovitch, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation.

The stamps are windows on Canada’s past and present. The exhibition explores eight themes treated in the stamps’ artwork: history, culture, economy, environment, symbols, society, philately and sports. Some of these stamps have become icons over the years, such as the 1929 Bluenose, a celebrated favourite of collectors. Many significant stamps are explored in depth in the exhibition.

Visitors can obtain more information on each stamp by consulting the National Archives of Canada’s Web site on computer monitors in the exhibition. They can also view historical vignettes on videos produced by the Historica Foundation of Canada. The Canadian Museum of Civilization will offer a special school programme in which children can discover the world of philately.

Reflections of Canada will be on permanent display at the Canadian Postal Museum, located in the Canadian Museum of Civilization.