Petition calls for Canada Post to print a Ukraine relief charity stamp

A petition is circulating, urging Canada Post to produce a charity stamp to provide a secure way to help Ukraine, while boosting the Crown Corporation.

A Vancouver man has launched a petition calling on Canada Post to launch an emergency charity stamp to fundraise for Ukrainian refugee relief.

Brian Grant, owner-opreator of Vancouver’s All Nations Stamp and Coin, said the sale of what’s known as “semi-postal” stamps has been used in the United States to raise millions of dollars for breast cancer research, and Canada Post could quickly retool to produce one to support Ukraine.

“We know that they can make a quick stamp, even though it normally takes two years, because during COVID, they made a Thank You-Merci stamp for their own employees, and when Vancouver was awarded the Olympics, they did a quick over-print on the Canada Post headquarters and put that out almost on the day that the Olympics were awarded, so they can do this,” he said.

Grant said Canada and Ukraine have deep historic ties, and Canada Post has previously produced stamps celebrating the Ukrainian community’s contributions in Canada.

The Crown Corporation has also produced sunflower stamps, he said, noting that the sunflower is a national Ukrainian symbol.

Such a stamp would also raise Canada Post’s profile and help Canadians reconnect with the postal service, he said, while providing another secure way for Canadians to help the Ukraine relief effort.

“This is a way that people can choose to give money, have something to show for it and actually use the stamps as well. So to me, it’s a no brainer, it’s a win-win,” he said.

Grant said he took the idea to the Canadian Stamp Dealers’ Association, who pitched it to Canada Post, but were told the Crown Corporation needs two years to launch a new stamp.