More than a quarter of a million votes by Canadians choose 2011 Mental Health Stamp design

The 2011 Mental Health Stamp!

A March 22nd media release from the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health:

More than a quarter of a million votes by Canadians choose 2011 Mental Health Stamp design

For the first time in history, public makes final selection on Canadian stamp

OTTAWA (ON) – THE PUZZLE, an original design by Terrebonne resident Miriane Majeau, has been chosen as Canada Post’s 2011 Mental Health Stamp, the first time in the post office’s history a stamp design was chosen by public vote. Ms. Majeau’s design received the most points, to win the stamp design competition. Overall, more than 286,000 votes were recorded.

“I’m very proud that my design connected with people. Dealing with mental health issues can be like putting a puzzle together,” Ms. Majeau noted. “But as the puzzle comes together, as you find the right pieces and connect them in the right way, something beautiful and whole is revealed.” Ms. Majeau will receive a framed commemorative enlargement of the final stamp featuring her design, and a $500 honorarium will be donated to La Fondation les petits trésors de l'Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies, a mental health charity chosen by Ms. Majeau.

Of the more than 300 stamp designs submitted last fall, 75 were chosen as semi-finalists by a panel of mental health consumers, advocates, philatelists and designers. The Stamp Advisory Committee (a national committee that guides Canada Post in selecting stamp subjects and designs) narrowed that selection down to the five designs that were voted on by the public.

Concepts and design elements from the four remaining designs will be used on the Official First Day Cover envelope, and the souvenir sheet, for the 2011 Mental Health Stamp issue. “Each of these designs does an excellent job of raising awareness of the mental health issue and breaking down the stigma attached to it,” said Honourable Rob Merrifield, Minister of State (Transportation) and Minister responsible for Canada Post.

The other finalist designs are: BEAUTIFUL HOPE (designed by Richard Green of Toronto (ON)), FORECAST HOPE (designed by Marie Tomeoki of Toronto (ON)), NO NEED TO HIDE (designed by Brian Blatnicki of London (ON)) and THE FACE OF MENTAL ILLNESS (designed by Norbert Lisinski of Courtice (ON)).

The 2011 Mental Health stamp will be issued on September 6, as part of the kick-off for the company’s annual fundraising campaign, which last year raised $2.2 million dollars. More than 4 million of the stamps will be printed with a dollar from every booklet of 10 stamps sold donated to the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health.

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.

Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health, 2010 Grant Recipients, National Launch

Held on September 21st at the Canada Post Halifax Mail Processing Plant:


Dominique Forest, General Manager, Regional Atlantic Operations, Canada Post.


Dominique Forest (left) and Wayne Stremel, Canada Post employee, unveil the 2010 Mental Health Stamp.


Wayne Stremel speaks about the 2010 Out of the Shadows Tour.




Tana Woodward, Member, Grants Advisory Committee, Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health.




Tana Woodward is also a social worker with the Mood Disorders Program in Halifax. Directly over Ms. Woodward's right shoulder is Donna Methot, President, HRM Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia.


Myra Donnelly-Gay, Executive Director, Healthy Minds Cooperative.


Stephen Ayer, Executive Director, Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia.


Funding provided to the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia will be used for a project entitled Expansion of Community-Based Volunteer Support Network and Strengthening of Mental Health System Advice/Connection Services. This project will include eight rural communities in Nova Scotia, incuding Cape Breton.


Please click on any photograph to enlarge it.


Also see:

Canada Post delivers $1.5 million to mental health organizations across Canada

Mental health care receives boost from Canada Post, Bell Canada

Third Mental Health Stamp Raises Funds for Community Mental Health Organizations

A September 13th media release from Canada Post:

Nearly $600,000 in funding provided to non-profit, community based programming

OTTAWA, ONTARIO - Canada Post has issued its third annual fundraising stamp {pictured] in support of mental health. Canada Post's two previous Mental Health fundraising stamps have generated nearly $600,000 in funding for non-profit, community based programming that supports individuals and families coping with mental illness. The 2010 stamp features a mental health patient on the path towards recovery. A tree—the universal symbol of growth, healing and renewal—stands at the summit of a mountain.

As with the previous mental health stamps, a dollar from every booklet sold supports the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health. Over the last two years the Foundation has distributed $2.5 million in grants to community groups in every region of Canada that provide front-line help to people living with mental illness.

"Mental illness can be far-reaching, but there is hope of recovery," says Jim Phillips, Canada Post's director of stamp services. "We're incredibly proud of what this stamp is accomplishing. The goal of this year's campaign is to raise $2 million and we're sure this new stamp will contribute a good portion to the cause."

Canada Post made mental health its cause of choice in 2007. Since then, customers, employees, suppliers and the public have raised more than $2.5 million for the Foundation. Nearly $600,000 of that was from sales of the 2008 and 2009 mental health stamps.

Lowe-Martin is printing 4 million of the 2010 stamps, which will be sold in booklets of 10 stamps. Measuring 24.75 mm x 35.25 mm (vertical), the stamps will be printed using seven-colour lithography on Tullis Russell paper and tagged on all sides. The Official First Day Cover will bear an Ottawa, Ontario cancel to note the location of the Foundation's headquarters.


For more information, please contact:

Canada Post
Media Relations
613-734-8888
medias@canadapost.ca

Please click on the image to magnify it.


Also visit:

Mental Health - Booklet of 10

Mental Health Stamp

From Canada Post:

In 2008, Canada Post adopted Mental Health as its chosen cause with a commitment to raise awareness for what is sometimes referred to as the “Invisible Disease.” This PERMANENT™ domestic rate (52¢) stamp has been issued as a semi-postal stamp, which means that the cost of the stamp includes a surcharge in addition to the face value. In this case, proceeds from the 10-cent surcharge will go towards mental health research and patient support.

Booklet of 10 stamps. Price: $6.20

To purchase the stamp, click here.

Click on the image to enlarge it.