Vimy Ridge, the Halifax Explosion and the 100th anniversaries of the NHL and the Toronto Maple Leafs are part of Canada Post's stamp program for 2017

Special Canada 150 stamp collection yet to be revealed

OTTAWA, Dec. 28, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada Post will welcome the country's sesquicentennial with a 2017 stamp program that introduces a wealth of new subjects and winds up some long-running series.

With Canadians gearing up for the 150^th anniversary of Confederation and a year of celebrating, Canada Post will place a special 150^th anniversary feature on each stamp in the 2017 collection.

"Every stamp helps tell Canada's story," says Deepak Chopra, President and CEO of Canada Post. "With this year's lineup, we're not only helping to tell our country's story, but we're also helping to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of Canada, which we all come together to celebrate."

New stamp issues include:

• Black History Month: The story of Mathieu Da Costa, believed to be the first person of African descent to reach Canada whose name survived in the historical record.
• Canadian Opera: A look at two great Canadian operas, as well as some talented individuals who have put our country on the world stage in opera.
• Daisies: A bouquet of two indigenous blooms; southern Ontario's lakeside daisy and showy fleabane, found in the high country of British Columbia and Alberta.
• Battle of Vimy Ridge, 100^th Anniversary: We respectfully honour the thousands of Canadians who lost their lives or were injured while securing Vimy Ridge from enemy forces.
• Multiculturalism – Eid, Diwali and Hanukkah celebrations: Stamps that depict our pride in being a land of diverse customs and celebrations.
• National Hockey League 100^th Anniversary: Looking back on a century of the game that connects us all.
• Toronto Maple Leafs™ 100^th Anniversary: A celebration of a proud history of the boys in blue.
• Halifax Explosion 100^th Anniversary: We look at how Halifax weathered this terrible and deadly event, the greatest marine tragedy of its time.

Several stamp series or annual issues that will continue or conclude are:

• Lunar New Year: Year of the Rooster
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Canada
• Canadian Photography
• Birds of Canada
• Canada Post Community Foundation

For next year's Christmas greetings, mailers can choose a sacred image, with Adoration of the Shepherds by Tommaso de Stefano Luneti or whimsical images of woodland creatures.

Additional 2017 stamp issues in development will be announced closer to their release date.

Many of Canada's stamp topics are the result of suggestions from the Canadian public or organizations wishing to commemorate a significant person, milestone or event. Canada Post is welcoming suggestions for consideration for the 2019 program and beyond.

SOURCE Canada Post

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