Over the decades, Canada Post has delivered an incalculable number of birthday greetings, an inestimable number of party invitations and thank you notes, and helped literally millions of Canadians feel better with a get well card. We’ve been a source of love letters—and too, some “Dear John” letters—as well as wedding invitations, birth announcements, and sadly, even sympathy cards. We’ve been a part of the lives of Canadians in good times and bad, and provided a means for friends and loved ones to stay in touch and share each other’s milestones with cards and letters.

Our latest Celebration stamp, issued in the Permanent domestic rate, features a stylized gift package to symbolize these events. According to Debbie Adams, of Adams + Associates Design Consultants, “I considered the role gift-giving plays in many types of celebrations. The colourful bows and patterned wrapping papers became my visual inspiration. I illustrated a box wrapped with paper that changes pattern on each plane, with each pattern representing a different special occasion.”

Adds Stamp Design Manager, Liz Wong, “Because the art of letter writing has become so rare, a letter or a card has become a gift in itself. That’s the reason behind the Celebration stamp—to give Canadians a way to celebrate each other and make memories with mail.”