“Mr. LeBlanc represents the very best of what it means to be a politician in this country,” said Jim Phillips, Director of Stamp Services at Canada Post. “His passion and dedication for public service is an example and one that deserves recognition.”
Born in Memramcook, New Brunswick in 1927, the Right Honourable Roméo LeBlanc began his career as a teacher and journalist before serving as press secretary to Prime Ministers Lester B. Pearson and Pierre Trudeau. In 1972, Mr. LeBlanc was elected to the House of Commons in the federal riding of Westmorland-Kent in New Brunswick. He served as Minister of Fisheries in three of Prime Minister Trudeau’s cabinets.
During his tenure as Minister of Fisheries, Mr. LeBlanc oversaw the expansion of Canada’s coastal fishing zone from a 12-mile limit to its current 200-mile limit and helped shape the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. He was appointed to the Senate in 1984 and became the first Acadian Governor General of Canada—and the first from Atlantic Canada—in1995, serving in that role until late1999.
As Governor General, Mr. LeBlanc promoted personal causes such as voluntarism and an appreciation for Canada’s Aboriginal culture. He launched the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award to recognize the courage and dedication of ordinary Canadians, and he proclaimed June 21st as National Aboriginal Day.
The commemorative stamp features Mr. LeBlanc’s official portrait. The Canadian, New Brunswick and Acadian flags are positioned below the portrait. The stamp pane has been used to tell of Mr. LeBlanc’s service to Canada and features his personal Coat of Arms, the Order of Canada insignia, the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award, and the Governor General’s Academic Medal.
