News releases

Ottawa, ON – For the first time in history, Canadians will have the final say on a postage stamp design. Beginning today, and until midnight (EST) on March 14, Canadians can vote for one of five stamp designs. The design that receives the most votes will become the 2011 Mental Health stamp. Votes can be cast by visiting www.deliverhope.ca and is limited to one vote per design, per computer, per day. The winning design will be announced in April 2011.

After more than 300 designs were received from an open design call last November, a panel of judges and the Stamp Advisory Committee (a national committee that guides Canada Post in selecting stamp subjects and designs) narrowed the selection down to five designs that best reflect the stamp’s mission – to raise awareness of the mental health issue and break down the stigma attached to it.

“Canadian stamps are among the best in the world,” says Honorable Rob Merrifield, Minister of State (Transportation) and Minister responsible for Canada Post. “Opening the door to select the 2011 Mental Health stamp is a great opportunity for Canadians to understand the process and be proud of its results.”

“I was very impressed by the quality of the designs we were asked to review,” says Jim Phillips, Director of Stamp Services at Canada Post. “Not only did we see incredible talent reflected in the designs, but we were also moved by the willingness of many designers to share their very personal story, either of their own journey through the illness or of a loved one’s struggles with mental illness.”

The designers of the five stamps are:

• NO NEED TO HIDE, designed by Brian Blatnicki of London (ON);
• BEAUTIFUL HOPE, designed by Richard Green of Toronto (ON);
• FORECAST HOPE, designed by Marie Tomeoki of Toronto (ON);
• THE FACE OF MENTAL ILLNESS, designed by Norbert Lisinski of Courtice (ON)
• THE PUZZLE, designed by Miriane Majeau of Terrebonne (QC).

The designer of the winning design will receive a framed commemorative enlargement of the stamp and a $500 honorarium will be donated to a mental health charity of their choice.

Canada Post made mental health its cause of choice in 2008. Since then, customers, employees, suppliers and the public have raised more than $4.8 million for the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health. Almost $1 million of that was from sales of the 2008, 2009 and 2010 mental health stamps. A dollar from every booklet of stamps sold supports the Foundation.