Canada Post celebrates rock history with new stamps
For those ready to rock, letters and postcards afford mailers a bit more flair. Highlighting Canada's longstanding history of musicianship, the country's postal service recently released a series of stamps that showcase Canadian rock 'n' roll bands that continue to entertain crowds today. The latest series of recording artist stamps commemorate groups including Rush, The Guess Who, The Tragically Hip and Beau Dommage.
Groups collaborate with designers
Canada Post stated this is the first time stamps celebrate bands instead of focusing on individual artists. Anick Losier, spokeswoman for Canada Post, told CTV News that previously released stamps paid tribute to artists like Bryan Adams, Joni Mitchell and Stompin' Tom Connors. Collaborating with designer Louis Gagnon of Paprika, band members worked to create and configure the design of the stamps. With a set of four distinct pictures, consumers can choose from full band photos of The Tragically Hip and Beau Dommage, in addition to Rush's stamp depicting their "2112" album and The Guess Who's logo, which features a maple leaf backdrop.
Garry Peterson, drummer for The Guess Who, told CTV the band collectively decided to feature the maple leaf to highlight their Canadian heritage. Peterson said he was genuinely surprised by the honor bestowed upon the band by Canada Post, likening the experience to the feeling he had when the musical outfit learned of the popularity of their first hit record in the U.S. He explained other Canadian artists have been influential in bringing the group to its level prominence on the national music scene.
Expanding exposure of rock legends
In conjunction with the release of the stamps, Canada Post is also offering collectible items, such as a Rush frame, which sold out in pre-orders prior to its in-store release. Losier explained the stamps are meant to be a treat for longtime fans of the bands, but she also hopes they'll expose younger generations to some of the roots of Canadian rock. The stamps are available for purchase on the Canada Post website in multiple formats: a booklet of 10 stamps, sets of four booklets or a sheet of four stamps.
Businesses looking to give their mailings more pop can make use of the latest release in the Canadian Recording Artists stamp collection. Direct mail serves as an effective marketing tool for many companies, and when used in concert with address verification software, mailers can leave an indelible mark on consumers.