Canada is blessed with a bounty of natural diversity; from the glacial glory in the farthest reaches of the north, to the fruitful soil of the south, to the life-giving waterways located in between. For centuries, Canadians have embraced this bounty; building upon nature's foundations. The result is countless attractions that draw millions of visitors to various parts of the country each year. On May 11, 2001, Canada Post celebrates ten such attractions with the issue of five US rate ($0.60) and five international rate ($1.05) commemorative stamps. In gratitude for shelter and liberation efforts during the Second World War, the Netherlands' royal family presented Ottawa with a gift of 100,000 tulip bulbs. The annual blooming of these bulbs has become a beautiful and symbolic event that has grown over the years in size and magnificence. In 1953, the first Canadian Tulip Festival was held, and today it's the largest of its kind in the world. The ten stamps featured in the Tourist Attractions set were designed by Bradbury Design of Regina, and a total of nine photographers supplied images capturing the essence of each attraction. Award-winning design principal Catharine Bradbury and associate designer Jennifer Hood saw this project as a means of promoting the beauty and diversity of Canadian tourist attractions to American and international communities.
SERIES – ISSUED 3 May 2002
City of Vancouver
Monte Carlo
Ottawa
The Bishop
To coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Tulip Festival, Canada Post has issued four domestic rate commemorative stamps featuring the tulips 'City of Vancouver', 'Monte Carlo', 'Ottawa' and 'The Bishop'. These self-adhesive stamps are available in a booklet of eight. Along with onions, leeks, garlic, asparagus and a variety of ornamental plants, tulips are members of the lily family. Cultivated as early as 1,000 AD in what is now Turkey, tulips were introduced to Europe in the 16th century, cultivated in the Netherlands beginning in the 1600s, and brought to North America by the Dutch. During the Second World War, the Dutch royal family sought shelter in Canada, and strong bonds were forged between the two countries. Princess Margriet was born during this time, in Ottawa's Civic Hospital. In helping to liberate the Netherlands, some 5,712 Canadian servicemen lost their lives and remain buried in Dutch soil. In the fall of 1945, the people of the Netherlands sent a gift of 100,000 tulip bulbs to Ottawa, which were planted in front of Parliament Hill and along the Queen Elizabeth Driveway. Then in 1946, Princess Juliana sent 20,000 bulbs to show her gratitude for the hospitality she received here. Each year, Ottawa receives 10,000 bulbs from the Queen's household, bringing the number of annual blooms to over one million in the National Capital Commission tulip beds. In 1953, the first Canadian Tulip Festival was held in Ottawa. Today, the Festival is the largest in the world, earning Ottawa the title of 'tulip capital of North America.' The 50th Anniversary Festival will take place between May 3rd and 20th, 2002. The 'City of Vancouver' is a primrose yellow tulip from the Single Late Group, a late-flowering, mainly long-stemmed, single-flowered cultivar. This tulip grows to approximately 70 cm. On the stamp, the 'City of Vancouver' is shown against a background of the Vancouver skyline. Using illustrations by Ghyslain Lefebvre and photographs taken (or provided) by Peter Timmermans, The Ottawa Hospital and Malak, Monique Dufour and Sophie Lafortune of Quebec City designed the Tulips stamp set. To further celebrate the 50th Tulip Festival, Canada Post will issue a special souvenir sheet featuring four commemorative stamps depicting the tulips 'City of Vancouver,' 'Monte Carlo,' 'Ottawa,' and 'The Bishop.' The Tulip Festival, held in Ottawa each year, celebrates the blooming of approximately one million tulips in National Capital Commission tulip beds. The first 100,000 tulip bulbs were sent as a gift from the Netherlands in the fall of 1945 as a token of thanks for the sacrifices made by Canada in the liberation of their country. The souvenir sheet will be issued on the occasion of the AMPHILEX 2002 World Philatelic Exhibition being held in Amsterdam.
