Canada - 2010 - First Quarter

Next, let's catch-up with Canada's first half, starting with the first quarter. An abundance of beautiful stamps for you to set your sights on.


8 January - Lunar New Year: Year of the Tiger

This is the 2nd release of the 12 year Lunar cycle. A Chinese seal, a stamp used as a form of signature, is featured on the souvenir sheet stamp, while its imprint, portraying the tiger in a traditionally stylized manner, appears on the normal domestic stamp.


10 January - Le Devoir Commemorative Envelope

Canada Post celebrates the 100th year of the "Le Devoir" newspaper from Montréal with this commemorative envelope. This newspaper has long strived to be free of any particular ideology or politic, advocating public ethics, social progress and the rights and freedoms of everyday citizens.


11 January - Flag over Historic Mills (definitives)

Mills have been a cornerstone of Canada's social and economic development for over 200 years. Long before grain milling technologies were developed, mills were the one form people had to reduce the amount of work necessary to grind wheat.
The 5 historic mills featured in the series are: Watson's Mill (Manotick, Ontario), the Keremeos Grist Mill (Keremeos, BC), the Old Stone Mill National Historic Site (Delta, Ontario), the Riordon Grist Mill (Caraquet, New Brunswick), and Cornell Mill (Stanbridge East, Quebec).
The set also includes wonderful Postcards with images of the same Mills.


11 January - Flowers (definitives)

This is the 5th issue of the Flowers series, and features 4 Orchids. Throughout history, Orchids have occupied  a fascinating place: virility to the ancient Greeks, "the plant of the King's fragrance" for the Chinese, and used in love potions during the Middle Ages.
More than 60 species exist across Canada, of which the following 4 are featured: Striped Coralroot (domestic stamp), Giant Helleborine (US race), Rose Pogonia (international stamp), and Grass Pink (oversized mail).
The series is available in booklet self-adhesive stamps and in a souvenir sheet (pictured above).


11 January - Queen Elizabeth II (definitive)

Every year Canada Post issues a new definitive stamp of the Queen, this time a photo of her most recent visit to Canada.


12 January - Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games

In order to celebrate the Olympic Winter Games, this series depicts photos representing the Vancouver Sea-to-Sky theme, a concept that links the scenic coastal city with Whistler's ski slopes. This theme is extended on to the souvenir sheet, where the stamps are positioned between a totem pole, grounded in the land, and an orca whale in the sea. The photo is set against a photograph of an inukshuk, located at the peak of Whistler Mountain.


1 February - William Hall V.C.

In this year's commemoration of Black History Month, Canada Post distinguishing seafarer William Hall, who was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1859 for outstanding bravery, the first black person, the first Nova Scotian, and the first Canadian sailor to receive such an honor. In 1857 Hall had volunteered to accompany a relief force to India to help a besieged British Garrison, and was the last one left standing in support of the Garrison after a fierce battle.


8 February - The Right Honourable Romeo LeBlanc

A tribute to a former Governor General whose pride in his nation led to a long and distinguished career in public service. He started out as Press Secretary for Prime Ministers Lester B. Pearson and Pierre Trudeau, and went on to other Government positions during Trudeau's prime ministry, eventually joining the Senate in 1984, and becoming in 1995, the first Acadian Governor General of Canada.


14 February - Canada Strikes Gold

In honour of Canada's brilliant performance at the Olympic games, Canada Post celebrates this, and Canada's first-ever gold medal victory on Canadian soil, with a stunning stamp showcases an Olympic Gold Medal from the Vancouver games. The stamp was held in secrecy until the last moment since it was dependent on Canada winning a Gold medal, which in no case is guaranteed.


22 February - Celebrating our Olympic Spirit

With the Olympic Games in full flight, this stamp set was issued to honour Canadian pride and the celebration of the spirit of the Olympics. With 2 excited fans on each end, we have in the background 4 different events: men's 4-man bobsleigh, women's cross-country sprint, men's short track relay speed skating, and Canadian cross-country skier Chandra Crawford accepting her gold medal at the 2006 Torino Olympic Games.


3 March - African Violets

To celebrate the end of winter and the coming of spring, Canada Post presents us with 2 Canadian African Violet hybrids. Famous for its vivid blue-to-violet blossoms and velvety heart-shaped leaves, the African Violet survives year-round in the warmth of centrally-heated homes and under artificial light sources.
The flower was first discovered in East Africa's Usambara Mountains in 1892, and was gradually spread across Europe, eventually making its way to Canada.


The stunning sets from the first quarter of 2010 have plenty to offer to all sorts of collectors.