Dufferin artist designs Canada Post stamp for 100th anniversary of poppy

Written By Sam Odrowski

Artistic talent is alive and well in Dufferin County.

Canada Post's new stamp commemorating the 100th anniversary of the poppy becoming the official symbol for remembrance in Canada, was designed locally, by a graphic designer in Mono. 

Blair Thomson of Believe In, a design company, has an ongoing relationship with Canada Post for stamp design, and was commissioned to come up with some concepts for the centennial stamp, as were other graphic designers, and his came out on top.

“Having your work out there and representing your country on the national stage is quite an honour and it's quite a moment, really,” said Thomson. 

He told the Citizen, as a kid, growing up in the 70s, seeing stamp designs motivated him to go into his current field. 

“It was Canadian stamps that inspired me to become a designer in the first place,” Thomson noted.

With the 100th anniversary of the poppy stamp, the approach was to make it simple and straightforward, not too convoluted, so it's easy to understand at a glance. 

“Conceptually, it's basically just honouring the symbolic nature of what the poppy is, what Canadians wear to sort of mark the occasion,” Thomson explained. “We just wanted the poppy to be out front and centre, and just be bold and proud… something that's really to the point and nothing more than that.”

He said he didn't want the stamp to be covered in decorative designs, instead, with a white background contrasting the poppy, it makes the mail appear to be wearing one, just as a person would on their jacket.

Thomson told the Citizen he's grateful for the opportunity to have designed the Canada Post stamp for the 100th anniversary of the poppy being adopted as the official symbol for remembrance
nationally.  

“It's an honour to do something which represents the country and the sacrifices we've made in the past and, obviously into the future as well,” he remarked.

Since Thomson has a working relationship with Canada Post, you can expect more exciting designs from him for Canadian postage in the future.