On Sept. 6 Canada Post unveiled its 2011 Mental Health stamp to help kick off the company’s annual fundraising campaign for community-based mental health initiatives across Canada.
In November, a competition was launched to help find a design, in which the five finalists were subjected to a popular vote; a first in Canada Post’s 160 years.
The Puzzle, a design by Terrebonne resident Miriane Majeau, received the most points and today will adorn over 3.5 million stamps available at post offices across Canada.
A dollar from the sale of every booklet of 10 stamps is donated to the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health.
“Dealing with mental health issues is like putting a puzzle together,” said Majeau. “As you connect the pieces, something beautiful and whole is revealed.”
She noted that during the competition strangers approached her to share their experiences with mental illness and how they related to a puzzle.
“The rallying effect this has created makes me very happy, my drawing was telling their stories – and encouraging others to tell theirs.”
Minister of State Steven Fletcher said, “The response by Canadians has been tremendous. More than 300 designs were submitted and almost 300,000 votes were cast. And now, Canadians can buy these stamps and help us contribute to an important cause.”
Since 2008, when mental health became Canada Post’s cause of choice, customers, employees, suppliers and the public have raised more than $4.8 million for the foundation. Nearly $1 million of that was from sales of mental health stamps.
The foundation is a registered not-for-profit charity, operated at arm’s length from Canada Post with an independent board of trustees. Donations from the 2010 campaign funded grants to 47 community-based groups in 2011, all of which provide front-line programs and services to people directly affected by mental illness or their families. To learn more about the foundation, visit www.canadapost.ca/hope.
