Canadian Olympic stamps

The first stamps that Canada Post released to commemorate an Olympic event were in commemoration of the 1976 Summer Olympics. This event was held in Montreal. The issue date of these patriotic memorabilia is dated September 20, 1973 and the issue price was 8 cents. It is noteworthy that the issue date coincides with the opening day of the British North America Philatelic Society meeting in Calgary. This is significant because both the design and purpose of this stamp is geared towards the interests of philatelists and all Canadian citizens alike.[1]

Furthermore, this was one of the first released collections but not the last to commemorate the Montreal Olympics. The custom design boasts five interlacing rings, topped with a crown. It also features a symbolic "m". The foundation's underlying, consequential reaction was to provoke the pervading universal brotherhood Olympic spirit. While the "m" signified the three tiered winners'. The podium is symbolic of the glory the winner shall extrude, the chivalrous spirit of a well, earned and contested victory.[1]

In another interpretation, at the center of the logo there is a discernible visual of the Olympic stadium's track. This is where the spectator and team players are united. Unified not only in game spirit but in a frontline visual spectatorship.[1]

1976 Montreal Olympics

1973
Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
20 September 1973 Symbol of the Montreal Games 8 cents Ashton-Potter Canada Limited 22,000,000 Alois Matanovic 12 x 12.5 N/A
20 September 1973 Symbol of the Montreal Games 15 cents Ashton-Potter Canada Limited 11,000,000 Alois Matanovic 12 x 12.5 N/A

Semi-Postals
Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
17 April 1974 Symbol of the Montreal Games 8 cents plus 2 cents Ashton-Potter Canada Limited 62 225 000 Alois Matanovic 12.5 N/A
17 April 1974 Symbol of the Montreal Games 10 cents plus 5 cents Ashton-Potter Canada Limited 26 112 500 Alois Matanovic 12.5 N/A
17 April 1974 Symbol of the Montreal Games 15 cents plus 5 cents Ashton-Potter Canada Limited 30 715 000 Alois Matanovic 12.5 N/A

Water Sports Series
Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
5 February 1975 [2] Swimming 8 cents plus 2 cents Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited 25 300 000 Hal Wallis 13 N/A
5 February 1975 Rowing 10 cents plus 5 cents Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited 18 250 000 Hal Wallis 13 N/A
5 February 1975 Sailing 15 cents plus 5 cents Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited 21 750 000 Hal Wallis 13 N/A

Sculptures
Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
14 March 1975 [2] The Sprinter $1 Ashton-Potter Limited 10 336 000 Based on a sculpture by Robert Tait McKenzie

Designed by Allan Robb Fleming Based on a photograph by Eberhard Otto

 12.5 x 12 N/A
14 March 1975 The Plunger $2 Ashton-Potter Limited 10 320 000 Based on a sculpture by Robert Tait McKenzie

Designed by Allan Robb Fleming Based on a photograph by Eberhard Otto

 12.5 x 12 N/A

Team Sports and Gymnastics
Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
7 January 1976 [3] Basketball 8 cents plus 2 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 16 500 000 James Hill 13.5 N/A
7 January 1976 Vaulting 10 cents plus 5 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 11 000 000 James Hill 13.5 N/A
7 January 1976 Soccer 20 cents plus 5 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 11 000 000 James Hill 13.5 N/A

Arts & Culture Programme
Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
6 February 1976 [3] Communications Arts 20 cents Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited 11 050 000 Ray Webber 12 x 12.5 N/A
6 February 1976 Handicrafts 25 cents Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited 9 450 000 Ray Webber 12 x 12.5 N/A
6 February 1976 Performing Arts 50 cents Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited 9 700 000 Ray Webber 12 x 12.5 N/A

Olympic Sites
Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
12 March 1976 [3] Place Ville Marie and Notre-Dame Church $1 British American Bank Note Company 4 520 000 Designed by Jean Mercier and Pierre Mercier 13.5 N/A
12 March 1976 Olympic Stadium and Velodrome $2 British American Bank Note Company 4 120 000 Designed by Jean Mercier and Pierre Mercier 13.5 N/A

Ceremonies
Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
18 June 1976 [3] Flame Ceremony 8 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 38 500 000 Designed by Peter Swan 13.5 N/A
18 June 1976 Opening Ceremony 20 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 15 400 000 Designed by Peter Swan 13.5 N/A
18 June 1976 Victory Ceremony 25 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 12 600 000 Designed by Peter Swan 13.5 N/A

1976 Summer Paralympics

The 1976 Olympiad for the Physically Disabled, lasting from August 3 to 11, marks the twenty-fifth renewal of the International Stoke Mandeville Games, which take place annually in England except for every fourth year, when they move to the nation staging the Summer Olympics.[3]

The site of the competitions will be Centennial Park, a 260-acre (1.1 km2) facility in the Borough of Etobicoke, a part of Metropolitan Toronto. The park contains a stadium, two Olympic standard pools, a gymnasium, a double rink arena, and even a ski hill which will serve as a backdrop for archery, one of the first sports ever introduced to the disabled. The Olympiad will feature, among other events, swimming, track and field, shooting, weightlifting, snooker and table tennis.[3]

This commemorative features a mixed-media painting by Tom Bjarnason, an internationally known Toronto illustrator. He has chosen to portray an archer as the embodiment of skill, strength and confidence, on a background of fresh, spring green, signifying growth and hope.[3]

Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
3 August 1976 Olympiad for the Physically Disabled 20 cents Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited 12 400 000 Designed by Tom Bjarnason 12 x 12.5 N/A

1976 Winter Olympics

The 1976 Winter Olympic Games were held in Innsbruck from 4 February to 15 February. The capital of the Austrian province of Tyrol, also hosted the 1964 Winter Olympics. Rolf Harder, the designer of the Innsbruck Winter Games stamp, studied both Fine Arts and Graphic Arts at the academy in Hamburg, and worked professionally in that city before coming to Canada in 1955.[3] He has created a graphic design using the official Innsbruck Olympic Symbol combined with a stylized snow crystal. The blue-grey background represents a cold winter sky and serves to dramatize the five bright colours of the Olympic rings.[3]

Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
6 February 1976 XII Olympic Winter Games, Innsbruck, 1976 20 cents Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited 11 050 000 Ray Webber 12 x 12.5 N/A

1980 Winter Olympics

The stamp for the 1980 Winter Olympic Games at Lake Placid, N. Y., was designed by Clermont Malenfant of Design G, Montreal. Using an action shot of a skier, by photographer Dinh Ngoc Mô, the design emphasizes the strenuous physical activity of Olympic winter sports. Canada. Post Office Department. [Postage Stamp Press Release], 1980.

Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
23 January 1980 Lake Placid, 1980, Olympic Winter Games 35 cents Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited 14 300 000 Designed by Clermont Malenfant and based on a photograph by Dinh Ngoc Mô 13.5 N/A

1988 Calgary Olympics

Designer Pierre-Yves Pelletier of Montreal uses a stylized, diagonal-screen interpretation of sports photographs as seen on previous stamps issued for the Calgary Olympic Winter Games.

  • Anyone with information on the First Issue is welcome to contribute.

1986, First Issue

[4]

Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
13 February 1986 Olympic Winter Games Site, Calgary, 1988 34 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 16 500 000 Designed by Pierre-Yves Pelletier 12.5 x 13 Calgary, 13 February 1986, Black[5]

1986, Second Issue

The second issue of Calgary Winter Olympic stamps features two of the Olympic sports: hockey, one of Canada's favourite sport, and the biathlon, which is steadily growing in popularity.[6]

Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
15 October 1986 Biathlon, Calgary, 1988 34 cents Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited 7 825 000 Designed by Pierre-Yves Pelletier 13.5 x 13 N/A
15 October 1986 Ice Hockey, Calgary, 1988 34 cents Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited 7 825 000 Designed by Pierre-Yves Pelletier 13.5 x 13 N/A

1987, Third Issue

The third issue of Calgary Olympic Winter Games stamps features bobsleigh and speedskating.

Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
3 April 1987 Speed Skating, Calgary, 1988 36 cents Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited 15 300 000 Designed by Pierre-Yves Pelletier 13.5 x 13 N/A
3 April 1987 Bobsleigh, Calgary, 1988 42 cents Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited 10 700 000 Designed by Pierre-Yves Pelletier 13.5 x 13 N/A

1987, Fourth Issue

The fourth issue of Calgary Olympic Winter Games stamps features cross-country skiing and ski jumping.

Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
13 November 1987 Ski Jumping, Calgary, 1988 36 cents Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited 8 200 000 Designed by Pierre-Yves Pelletier 13.5 x 13 N/A
13 November 1987 Cross-Country Skiing, Calgary, 1988 36 cents Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited 8 200 000 Designed by Pierre-Yves Pelletier 13.5 x 13 N/A

1988, Final Set

The final set of Calgary Olympic Winter Games stamps appears on the eve of the Games themselves. The stamps feature alpine skiing, figure skating, luge and curling.[7] These stamps, and the entire 11-stamp set dedicated to the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, were designed by Pierre-Yves Pelletier of Montreal.[7] The images featured were created using a unique diagonal half-tone dot screen on photographs of athletes in action. The screen was specially designed by Mr. Pelletier for the stamp series.[7]

Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
12 February 1988 Alpine Skiing, Calgary, 1988 37 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 8 192 500 Designed by Pierre-Yves Pelletier 12 x 12.5 N/A
12 February 1988 Curling, Calgary, 1988 37 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 8 192 500 Designed by Pierre-Yves Pelletier 12 x 12.5 N/A
12 February 1988 Figure Skating, Calgary, 1988 45 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 10 550 000 Designed by Pierre-Yves Pelletier 13 x 12.5 N/A
12 February 1988 Luge, Calgary, 1988 74 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 10 912 500 Designed by Pierre-Yves Pelletier 13 x 12.5 N/A

1992 Winter Olympics

Canada Post Corporation will honour the XVI Olympic Winter Games, being held this year in France, with a commemorative stamp booklet of five se-tenant stamp designs. The stamps are being issued on February 7, 1992 - a day before the Games officially open in Albertville.[8] Five separate sports have been chosen to represent Canada's participation in these Olympic Winter Games. Among the most popular and spectacular, these include alpine skiing, figure skating, ski jumping, hockey and bobsledding.

Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
7 February 1992 Ski Jumping 42 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 3 000 000 Designed by Peter Adam and Katalin Kovats 12.5 x 13 N/A
7 February 1992 Figure Skating 42 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 3 000 000 Designed by Peter Adam and Katalin Kovats 12.5 x 13 N/A
7 February 1992 Hockey 42 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 3 000 000 Designed by Peter Adam and Katalin Kovats 12.5 x 13 N/A
7 February 1992 Bobsleigh 42 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 3 000 000 Designed by Peter Adam and Katalin Kovats 12.5 x 13 N/A
7 February 1992 Alpine Skiing 42 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 3 000 000 Designed by Peter Adam and Katalin Kovats 12.5 x 13 N/A

1992 Summer Olympics

Many of the world's top athletes, including Canada's best, will be competing in Barcelona, Spain from July 25 to August 9 at the 1992 Olympic Summer Games. One of 12 top corporate sponsors, Canada Post Corporation is issuing a booklet of 10 stamps on June 15, commemorating the Canadian athlete's participation. The five stamp designs depict track and field, gymnastics, swimming, diving and cycling.[9]

Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
15 June 1992 Diving 42 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 3 000 000 Designed by Peter Adam and Katalin Kovats 12.5 x 13 N/A
15 June 1992 Cycling 42 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 3 000 000 Designed by Peter Adam and Katalin Kovats 12.5 x 13 N/A
15 June 1992 Swimming 42 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 3 000 000 Designed by Peter Adam and Katalin Kovats 12.5 x 13 N/A
15 June 1992 Track and Field 42 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 3 000 000 Designed by Peter Adam and Katalin Kovats 12.5 x 13 N/A
15 June 1992 Gymnastics 42 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 3 000 000 Designed by Peter Adam and Katalin Kovats 12.5 x 13 N/A

1996 Summer Olympics, Sporting Heroes Series

To mark the centenary of the Olympic Games, and to honour the contribution made by our athletes over a hundred years, Canada Post Corporation is pleased to unveil a new series of five domestic rate stamps featuring Canadian gold medalists.[10]

The new Sporting Heroes series was designed by Mark Koudis of Atlanta Art and Design Inc. of Toronto. His first work for Canada Post, the series features evocative sepia toned photographs of these five prominent medalists with the athlete's name, the event and year of victory prominent in the design. The five rings of the Olympics are faintly visible in the centre of each stamp.[10]

Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
8 July 1996 Ethel Catherwood, High Jump, 1928 45 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 2 400 000 Designed by Mark Koudis and based on a photograph by Canada's Sports Hall of Fame 13 x 12.5 N/A
8 July 1996 Étienne Desmarteau, 56 lb (25 kg) Weight Throw, 1904 45 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 2 400 000 Designed by Mark Koudis and based on a photograph by Canada's Sports Hall of Fame 13 x 12.5 N/A
8 July 1996 Fanny Rosenfeld, 100 m and 400 m Relay, 1928 45 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 2 400 000 Designed by Mark Koudis and based on a photograph by Canada's Sports Hall of Fame 13 x 12.5 N/A
8 July 1996 Gerald Ouellette, Smallbore Rifle, Prone, 1956 45 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 2 400 000 Designed by Mark Koudis and based on a photograph by Canada's Sports Hall of Fame 13 x 12.5 N/A
8 July 1996 Percy Williams, 100 m and 200 m, 1928 45 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 2 400 000 Designed by Mark Koudis and based on a photograph by Canada's Sports Hall of Fame 13 x 12.5 N/A

2002 Winter Olympics

To celebrate the spirit of the 2002 Winter Games taking place February 8–24, 2002 in Salt Lake City, Canada Post will issue four stamps featuring some of the most exciting events of the games.[11] Produced by Bhandari and Plater Inc. of Toronto, the stamp designs reflect the speed, agility and grace of winter sports - as well as the cool crisp colours of their surroundings and the team uniforms.[11]

Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
25 January 2002 Short Track Speed Skating 45 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 1 250 000 Designed by Sunil Bhandari and by Matthew Wearn, Based on photographs by Patrick McCoy and by Robert McNeil 13.5 x 13 N/A
25 January 2002 Curling 45 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 1 250 000 Designed by Sunil Bhandari and by Matthew Wearn, Based on a photograph by Michael Burns 13.5 x 13 N/A
25 January 2002 Freestyle Aerials 45 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 1 250 000 Designed by Sunil Bhandari and by Matthew Wearn, Based on a photograph by Mike Ridewood 13.5 x 13 N/A
25 January 2002 Women's Hockey 45 cents Ashton-Potter Limited 1 250 000 Designed by Sunil Bhandari and by Matthew Wearn, Based on a photograph by Matthew Plexman 13.5 x 13 N/A

2004 Summer Olympics

In 2004, the Summer Games of the XXVIII Olympiad will be held in Athens, Greece, home of the first Olympiad revival of the modern games held in 1896, as well as the original ancient games, which are believed to have begun in the year 776 B.C.[12] The 16-stamp pane se-tenant domestic (49¢) issue features both a tribute to women's soccer and, with the marathon, a creative invocation of the games' history.[12] The stamps were designed by veteran stamp designer Pierre-Yves Pelletier, who has designed more than 100 stamps for Canada Post.[12] The second stamp pays homage to the marathon and the history of the games. The marathon was first introduced in the Modern Olympic Games of 1896 in Athens, and was originally a 40-kilometre race from Marathon, northeast of Athens, to the Olympic Stadium.[12]

Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
28 July 2004 Spyros Louis, Marathon, Athens, 1896 49 cents Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited 2 000 000 Designed and illustrated by Pierre-Yves Pelletier 12.5 x 13 N/A
28 July 2004 Football (Soccer), Our Hope for the Future 49 cents Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited 2 000 000 Designed and illustrated by Pierre-Yves Pelletier

Based on a photograph by Christian Lalonde Photograph retouched by Pierre Rousseau

 12.5 x 13 N/A

2006 Winter Olympics

The spirit of the Winter Olympics is captured in these two stamps, the result of a collaborative conceptual effort by Susan Mavor and Scot Geib of Metaform Communication Design, a design studio based in Vancouver, British Columbia.[13]

Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
3 February 2006 Team pursuit 51 cents Lowe-Martin Company Inc. 2 000 000 Designed by Susan Mavor and Scot Geib, based on illustrations by Mark Heine and Chi-Ming Yeung 12.5 x 13 N/A
3 February 2006 Skeleton 51 cents Lowe-Martin Company Inc. 2 000 000 Designed by Susan Mavor and Scot Geib, based on illustrations by Mark Heine and Chi-Ming Yeung 12.5 x 13 N/A

2008 Summer Olympics

Designed by q30design inc. from Toronto, the stamp features an abstract image of an athlete with hands overhead carrying a flag.[14] The colours of red, white and gold figure prominently on a clean white background.

Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design Perforation First Day Cover Cancellation
18 July 2008 The Games of the XXIX Olympiad [15] 52 cents Lowe-Martin Company Inc. 2 500 000 Designed by q30design inc. based on an illustration by Laurie Lafrance Simulated Perforation Golden, British Columbia

2010 Vancouver Olympics
Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Quantity Design First Day Cover Cancellation
January 12, 2009 Innukshuk Logo[16] Permanent Tullis Russell N/A VANOC Vancouver, British Columbia
January 12, 2009 Bobsleigh[17] Permanent Tullis Russell N/A John Belisle, Kosta Tsetsekas Whistler and West Vancouver, British Columbia
January 12, 2009 Curling Permanent Tullis Russell N/A John Belisle, Kosta Tsetsekas Whistler and West Vancouver, British Columbia
January 12, 2009 Freestyle Skiing Permanent Tullis Russell N/A John Belisle, Kosta Tsetsekas Whistler and West Vancouver, British Columbia
January 12, 2009 Snowboarding Permanent Tullis Russell N/A John Belisle, Kosta Tsetsekas Whistler and West Vancouver, British Columbia

Olympic Mascot Stamps
Date of Issue Mascot Denomination Printer Quantity Design First Day Cover Cancellation
January 12, 2009 Miga $0.98 Tullis Russell N/A VANOC Richmond, British Columbia
January 12, 2009 Quatchi $1.65 Tullis Russell N/A VANOC Richmond, British Columbia

[16]

2010 Winter Paralympics
Date of Issue Theme Denomination Printer Printing Process Quantity Design First Day Cover Cancellation
January 12, 2009 Paralympic Games Emblem[16] Permanent Tullis Russell Lithography in Five Colours N/A VANOC Vancouver, British Columbia
January 12, 2009 Ice Sledge Hockey[17] Permanent Tullis Russell Lithography in Five Colours N/A John Belisle, Kosta Tsetsekas Whistler and West Vancouver, British Columbia

Paralympic Mascot Stamps
Date of Issue Mascot Denomination Printer Quantity Design First Day Cover Cancellation
February 12, 2009 Sumi $1.18 Tullis Russell N/A VANOC Vancouver, British Columbia

[16]

References
  1. Canada. Post Office Department. [Postage Stamp Press Release], 1973.
  2. Canada. Post Office Department. [Postage Stamp Press Release], 1975.
  3. Canada. Post Office Department. [Postage Stamp Press Release], 1976.
  4. "Canadian Postal Archives Database". www.data4.collectionscanada.ca. Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-09-21. Retrieved 2019-10-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. Canada Post Corporation. [Postage Stamp Press Release], 1986.
  7. Canada Post Corporation. [Postage Stamp Press Release], 1988.
  8. Canada Post Corporation. Canada's Stamp Details, No. 5, 1992, p. 15-17.
  9. Canada Post Corporation. Canada's Stamp Details, No. 6, 1992, p. 1, 10.
  10. Canada Post Corporation. Canada's Stamp Details, Vol. 5, No. 4, 1996, p. 5-7, 9.
  11. Canada Post Corporation. Canada's Stamp Details, Vol. 11, No. 1, 2002, p. 18-19.
  12. Canada Post Corporation. Canada's Stamp Details, Vol. 13, No. 3, 2004, p. 12-13.
  13. Canada Post Corporation. Canada's Stamp Details, Vol. 15, No. 1, 2006, p.22-23.
  14. Canada Post Stamp Details, p.6, July to September 2008, Volume XVII, No. 3
  15. Canada Post Stamp Details, July to September 2008, Volume XVII, No. 3
  16. Canada Post Stamp Details, January to March 2009, Volume XVIII, No. 1, page 14
  17. Canada Post Stamp Details, January to March 2009, Volume XVIII, No. 1, page 11
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