Canada is a nation of great artistic talent, talent that Canada Post continues to promote with its stamp program. Andre Ouellet, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canada Post, recently announced that Canada Post will issue a domestic rate (48 cent) stamp commemorating the work of well-known Canadian sculptor Leo Mol.

Leo Mol was born in Ukraine in 1915 and immigrated to Canada in 1948. His first foray into the art world was with ceramics and he soon became known for his figures of square dancers, skiers, Inuit, and wildlife. His first exhibition, in his adopted hometown of Winnipeg, took place in 1949 and Canadians have been captivated by his work ever since. The Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, located in Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park, features more than 200 of his bronze sculptures. The Garden attracts more than 250,000 visitors each year. An artist of international acclaim, Mol has been commissioned to sculpt monuments in Canada, the United States, Argentina and Rome. He has executed more than 80 stained glass windows and is also known for his paintings and porcelain figures.

Lumberjacks, Mol’s sculpture featured on the stamp, began as a small bronze sculpture in 1978. As a sculptor of the human body, he was impressed with the lumberjack’s strength, skill and endurance. Realizing that the lumberjack was also a powerful Canadian symbol, he set about creating a composition featuring two loggers that allowed him to portray the concepts of teamwork and balance. Mol completed the sculpture in 1990, and it is now the centrepiece of the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden in Winnipeg.

The stamps will be printed on Tullis Russell Coatings paper by Canadian Bank Note in 6-colour lithography. Each stamp measures 45 mm x 30 mm horizontally, is perforated 13+ and has general tagging on all four sides. The Official First day Covers will have dual cancellation marks, with both Winnipeg, Manitoba and Montreal, Quebec.

Stamps and Official First Day covers will be available at participating post offices, or by mail order from the National Philatelic Centre. From Canada and the USA call toll-free: 1-800-565-4362 and from other countries call: (902) 863-6550. Stamp information may also be found on Canada Post’s Web site at: www.canadapost.ca