Canada Post’s stamps feature 2 native wildflowers.
In March 2024, Canada Post launched its newest stamp issue, which featured two native wildflowers: butterfly milkweed and spotted beebalm. These are important sources of food for various pollinators.
The history of Canada Post’s iconic stamps
Canada’s first postage stamp, the Three-Penny Beaver, was issued in 1851 and featured a beaver, a tribute to Canada’s early fur trade economy. Throughout time, Canada Post’s stamps were designed to reflect significant events, anniversaries and cultural milestones. The stamps also featured Canadian landscapes, national symbols, and native flora and fauna.
Over time, Canada Post has issued stamps celebrating cultural diversity, Indigenous heritage, and immigrant contributions to Canadian society, which reflect Canada’s multicultural identity.
In recent years, Canada Post has released stamps highlighting environmental conservation, sustainable living, and biodiversity. These stamps raise awareness of pressing environmental issues and the importance of protecting Canada’s natural heritage.
Canada Post’s wildflower stamps
Earlier this year, Canada Post issued a stamp which features two native wildflowers, the butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) and spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata). These two wildflower species are important sources of food for a variety of pollinators for hummingbirds, butterflies and bees because their blossoms become heavy with nectar and pollen.
Both of these wildflowers are perennial herbs that can grow up to a meter tall. The butterfly milkweed and the leaves of other milkweeds are the only food source for monarch butterfly caterpillars. The spotted beebalm is a member of the mint family and gives off a sweet aroma. As the name suggests, it is often attractive to bees, including honey bees and bumble bees.
In Canada, spotted beebalm and butterfly milkweed are native only to certain regions of southern Ontario and southwestern Quebec. In Quebec, these wildflowers are designated as threatened and protected by law, which makes their importance incredibly significant.
How stamps can help raise awareness about conservation
By featuring wildflowers on postage stamps, Canada Post is leveraging its platform to raise awareness of environmental issues and promote conservation efforts. Canada Post’s stamp issue serves as a call to action for individuals, communities, and policymakers to prioritize the conservation of wildflowers and their habitats. Planting native wildflowers in gardens and green spaces, supporting local conservation initiatives, and advocating for policies that protect biodiversity are just some of the ways individuals can contribute to preserving Canada’s natural heritage.
And this is not the only time Canada Post’s stamps have called out a sense of urgency and action through the designs of their stamps. In 2009, Canada Post launched the “Preserve the Polar Regions and Glaciers,” which featured polar bears and the Arctic tern to raise awareness of the dangers of climate change and the many creatures impacted by its effects. In 2022, Canada Post launched a series highlighting five whale species with Canadian populations that have been assessed as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Canada Post has also released stamps highlighting Canada’s national parks and protected areas, showcasing the importance of preserving these natural spaces for future generations.
Stamps are miniature works of art that reach millions of people across the country, making them powerful tools for education and advocacy. They serve as reminders about historical events, native animals, and local environments that may need our help in conserving.
The wildflowers featured in Canada Post’s latest issues are only two examples of the local flora that needs protecting and the impact that will ensue if we don’t protect them. We commend Canada Post for including wildflowers in the issues, and we hope they continue to feature species of flora and fauna that need our attention.
