The grand opening of the Canadian War Museum last weekend was scheduled to coincide with the 60th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe) towards the end of the Second World War. Canada Post celebrated the occasion with the unveiling of a new domestic-rate (50¢) postage stamp, designed by Tiit Telmet and Marko Barac of Toronto's Telmet Design Associates. Prime Minister Paul Martin was among the dignitaries present for the unveiling of the stamp in Ottawa on May 4th.


The Canadian War Museum, affiliated with the Canadian Museum of Civilization, serves as a living memorial for those who served Canada's armed forces, ensuring that new generations of Canadians remember the sacrifices of those who served.

Canada Post's new stamp aims to educate, preserve and remember. Veteran stamp designer Tiit Telmet notes that "the human aspect was key. We felt it was important to find symbols that would let viewers put themselves in the image, because viewers to the museum respond to its call for remembrance in very personal ways."

The central image to the stamp is the Memorial Cross GRV (Silver Cross), awarded to wives and mothers of fallen servicemen. The handwritten letter in the background represents the private experience of war, while the candle signifies remembrance. A silhouette of a man and child represent how individuals must keep memories alive by educating children about our history. Other elements portrayed on the stamp were carefully chosen to represent a range of history. The lines of Morse code, which run along the top and bottom edges of the stamp, repeat a significant architectural feature of the new building where some windows are shaped and positioned to display in Morse code the phrase "Lest we forget/ N'oublions jamais."

The self-adhesive stamp is sold in a booklet of 8 stamps. Further information about this philatelic release is available at Canada Post's website www.canadapost.ca and additional information about the Canadian War Museum at www.warmuseum.ca

The stamp serves to remind us all of the sacrifices made on the battlefield, not only by Canadians but by all those the world over who were involved with war and peace support operations in the development of our democratic society. The role of a prominent Estonian-Canadian designer in commemorating Canada's newest museum at a time when the world is reevaluating the legacy of World War II is a source of considerable pride for many, not only in the philatelic community.

This stamp will help spread that important message across this vast multicultural country. Among Canadian citizens very few lack some personal connection with the sacrifices demanded by WW II, an event set off by an evil compact of two totalitarian regimes for whom freedom, self-determination and democracy were alien words.

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