Canada Post Launches Its First Stamp Design Contest

The Winnipeg Free Press reports that first design competition in Canada Post's 159-year history will be held to promote awareness of mental health.

Canadians can submit designs online until Jan. 17. A short essay of up to 100 words should be included to explain why entrants think their design will raise awareness and understanding of mental health issues according to the article.

Entrants are being encouraged to promote their submissions using social media such as Facebook. The submission that proves most popular online will become one of the 20 semi-finalists, and its designer will win an iPad.

The other 19 semi-finalists will be chosen by a panel made up of mental health experts, representatives from the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health and "stamp and design experts from Canada Post who have historic, design or philatelic knowledge."

Mary Traversy, senior vice-president, Transaction Mail, at Canada Post, is quoted as saying, "“A stamp design will be seen by millions of Canadians; it has an incredible power to invite conversation.”

For more information and full contest rules, visit http://www.deliverhope.ca/.

The winner will be announced in April.

Shown above, this year's Canadian mental health semi-postal. Each year starting in 2008, Canada has issued a surcharged mental health stamp. Since then some $2.5 million has been raised for Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health.

To view the entire article, click here.