Heartfelt gratitude that filled five days across Canada

September 4, 2018
3 minute read

Emergency Responders stamp unveilings became emotional tributes to thousands of Canada’s finest

It was unofficial. There wasn’t a proclamation. You won’t find it on a 2018 calendar in the store.

But it was incredibly heartfelt. Here at Canada Post, we began to call it Emergency Responders Week.

From Monday, Sept. 10 to Friday, Sept. 14, Canada Post honoured the country’s emergency responders – professional and volunteer, civilian and military – by unveiling five stamps depicting them in action.

Unveiling these stamps became a deeply respectful celebration of tens of thousands of this country’s most can-do, committed and caring citizens. All five stamps – and the unveiling events – reflect Canadians’ respect and gratitude for the skills, service and sacrifices of the people who protect them, sometimes by risking their own lives.

They were unveiled at events and locations that helped to tell the story about the front-line responders being honoured, who serve communities all across Canada. Here’s a recap of the events – and the stamps themselves:

The week kicked off when we unveiled the Paramedics stamp at the Ambulance NB headquarters in Fredericton. New Brunswick was a fitting choice because it is expanding the services that paramedics can provide. The stamp depicts two paramedics giving life-saving treatment and an air ambulance.

The next day, at CFB Valcartier, we unveiled the stamp to honour Regular and Reserve members of the Canadian Armed Forces, who are a last line of defence in natural disasters such as wildfires, floods and ice storms. The stamp depicts CAF members responding to a major flood – which they have had to several times in recent years.

On day three, we paid tribute to all the country’s search and rescue experts by unveiling a stamp depicting a team performing a helicopter extraction in the mountains. The unveiling was held in Banff, Alta., home to Parks Canada’s Mountain Safety Program.

We unveiled the firefighters stamp on Sept. 13 in Halifax, the city where the country’s oldest fire department was established in 1754. The stamp depicts a determined firefighter up close as two firefighters battle an inferno in the background. The image is intentionally universal, in order to reflect part-time or full-time professionals or volunteer firefighters in any community. They all save lives and protect property and the environment with their skills and courage.

The final unveiling was the stamp to honour both civilian and sworn members of Canada’s police services. Overwhelmingly, they keep Canadians and communities safe with compassion, integrity and professionalism. The stamp depicts an officer in the foreground whose cap badge and insignia are generic – again to represent police across the country. The stamp was unveiled in Ottawa, home to the Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial.

The stamps are all available in postal outlets and on canadapost.ca.