Canada Post’s new Ferries series celebrates Canada’s marine heritage. The five stamps set features ferries which are currently operating across the country: the Spirit of British Columbia (Salish Sea, British Columbia), Chi-Cheemaun (Georgian Bay, Ontario), Trillium (Lake Ontario, Ontario), Alphonse-Desjardins (St. Lawrence River, Quebec), and Grand Manan V (Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick).
Indigenous Canadians have traditionally used waterways, including coastlines, rivers, and lakes, for transportation, hunting, and trade using kayaks, canoes, umiaks, and boats. Our national ferry system transports millions of passengers and vehicles annually, providing regional transit for residents and tourists, sometimes to remote locations. There are over 180 privately-owned and public ferry routes across the country.
The Spirit of British Columbia connects the lower mainland to Vancouver Island between Tsawwassen and Victoria in a 95-minute coastal crossing across the Salish Sea. Built in 1993, it carries up to 2,100 passengers and over 350 vehicles. It is one of the two largest ferries in the BC Ferries fleet. The vessel’s fuel system was converted in 2018 to dual-fuel propulsion. This hybrid system uses both diesel and liquefied natural gas and produces much less CO2 emissions. The ferry includes a café, Passages gift store, and outer decks providing spectacular views of the coastal landscape.
Chi-Cheemaun travels between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island in Ontario, across Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay. Its name means “big canoe” in Ojibwe. The ferry was built in 1974 and runs from May to October, carrying up to 643 passengers and 150 vehicles. The ferry features woodland artwork, an art gallery, and Muskoka chairs on the upper deck.
Trillium connects Toronto and the Toronto Islands, across Lake Ontario. This is the oldest ferry of the five and was launched in 1910 and was refurbished in [year not provided]. The vessel is a rare side-wheeled paddle steamer. It is the largest ferry in the Toronto fleet and carries up to 800 passengers and a limited number of commercial, emergency, and Island resident’s vehicles.
Alphonse-Desjardins links Quebec City and Lévis across the St. Lawrence River in Québec. Built in 1971, the vessel was named for the founder of North America’s first credit union. The 10-minute crossing runs year-round, offering views of the city. It can carry up to 590 passengers and more than 50 vehicles.
Grand Manan V connects Blacks Harbour and Grand Manan Island in New Brunswick, across the Bay of Fundy. Built in 1990, it operates from late June to mid-September and can carry up to 300 people and 60 vehicles. It navigates some of the world’s highest tides in the 90-minute crossing. Passengers may spot fishing boats and wildlife, including whales and seabirds. The vessel also transports millions of dollars of lobster, salmon, and dulse annually.
Designed by Lionel Gadoury and Owen Gabany of Context Creative, the stamps feature postcard-like photos of the ferries. Printed by Lowe-Martin, the issue includes a booklet of 10 Permanent™ domestic rate stamps, an Official First Day Cover, which is a day of issue collectible envelope, and a souvenir sheet of five stamps. The cancel location for the cover is Tobermory in Ontario.
The stamps were issued by Canada Post on July 12 and are available at Canada Post outlets and online at canadapost.ca.
