One of my favourite set of sheets is the roadside attractions series from Canada. I had just
one of the set so far but now Ive got all the three and they are a beautiful set of odd shaped stamps.
Canada Post issued the first set in a three-year stamp series showcasing Canada’s famous roadside attractions in July 2009. The stamps are as fun and whimsical as the attractions they celebrate.
Mr. PG, Prince George, BC - 54c.
A staggering 8 metres tall, the giant “log” man is hard to miss. He’s been welcoming visitors to Prince George, BC, since 1960.
Sign Post Forest, Watson Lake, Yukon - 54c.
It all began in 1942, when a homesick U.S. Army G.I. working on the Alaska Highway put up a sign pointing the way and showing the mileage to his hometown. Others followed suit, and the Watson Lake Signpost Forest’s count today exceeds 64,000 signs.
Inukshuk (stone giant), Hay River, Northwest Territories - 54c.
This stunning sculpture belongs to the age-old Inuit tradition of building stone giants to guide travelers through Canada’s vast landscape.
Pysanka (giant Easter egg), Vegreville, Alberta - 54c.
A massive Easter egg—the largest in the world, in fact—is on display at the entrance to Elk Island National Park. Its name, Pysanka, is Ukrainian for “Easter egg,” and it symbolizes Vegreville’s vibrant folk culture.
The second set of the series was issued in July of 2010.
A
big Coffee Pot, Davidson, SK - domestic rate.
A tribute to the town’s hospitality, it’s believed that this 7.3 metre-tall landmark has the capacity to fill nearly 150,000 cups of coffee.
The Happy Rock, Gladstone, Manitoba - domestic rate.
You just can’t help but smile back at this jolly black-and-white rock decked in top hat and boots, grinning ear-to-ear as he welcomes visitors to the town.
The giant steel Wawa Goose, Wawa, Ojibwe - domestic rate.
Stands poised for flight, alerting visitors that the town is a stopover for flocks of Canada Geese headed south for the winter.
A giant Atlantic Puffin, Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan - domestic rate.
A tribute to the charismatic seabirds that live in colonies around the town’s shores.
And the third set of stamps was issued in July 2011
The World’s Largest Lobster Shediac, New Brunswick - domestic rate.
The world’s largest lobster attracts roughly half a million visitors a year. Designed by notable animal sculptor, the late Winston Bronnum, the lobster is made of reinforced concrete and steel. It took three years to build and was completed in 1990. Measuring 10.7 metres in length and 5 metres in height, it weighs 50 metric tons and rests on a 32 metric ton pedestal.
The Wild Blueberry, Oxford, Nova Scotia - domestic rate.
Oxley, the giant Wild Blueberry has made his home at a gas station at the entrance of the town since 1999, when the Irving Oil Company “relocated” him from Peticodiac, New Brunswick. Standing 2.4 metres high and 3.3 metres wide, this big brute of a berry, built of steel rebar and cement, weighs in at eight tons.
The Big Potato, Prince Edward island - domestic rate
This giant potato sculpture guards the entrance to the Prince Edward island museum. Made of fibreglass and standing 4.3 metres high and 2.1 metres in diameter, this spectacular spud has mashed its way into many a tourists’ snapshot.
The Giant Squid, Glover’s Harbour, Newfoundland - domestic rate
In 1878, fishermen landed a giant 16.7 metres long squid, recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest creature of its kind in the world. This life-size sculpture, completed in 2001, was designed by Don Foulds, with collaboration from Edward O’Neill, Niel McLellan, and Jason Hussey. Located on the main drag in Glover’s Harbour, this concrete and metal replica is positioned close to the site of the original squid’s capture.
Do feel free to add your thoughts, comments or suggestions
NOTE: Please click on the images for a larger view / closer look.
Adapted from the Canada post web site
