In 2022, Canada celebrates the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne. She is Canada’s longest reigning sovereign and the first to celebrate a platinum jubilee.
As a Canadian, the monarchy is very much a thing in our country. The Queen is on our money, on stamps, in songs, history (good & bad) etc. etc. etc. So as a Canadian and a lover of vintage, I knew I needed to share some of the ways Canada is marking this special anniversary.
First up, I did a post a few years ago showcasing a collection of vintage images of Queen Elizabeth over the years (on her 90th Birthday). You can find that post HERE.
In honour of this special day, Canada Post has released a special Platinum Jubilee stamp.
ABOUT THE STAMP:
Celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with this upper left corner block of PermanentTM domestic rate stamps.
This commemorative stamp features the Royal Mail’s classic “Machin” profile of The Queen. It was created by sculptor Arnold Machin, O.B.E., R.A., for a definitive stamp first issued in 1967, and has been used on British stamps ever since. It is the first time that it has appeared on a Canadian stamp.
According to Robin Harris, an Elizabethan philatelist and editor of Unitrade’s Specialized Catalogue of Canadian Stamps, The Canadian Philatelist and the Corgi Times (collector newsletter):
“The United Kingdom’s iconic Machin series of stamps is the largest definitive series ever produced. Stamp collectors the world over collect and study this series perhaps more than any other series of stamps. New values required for postal rate increases, along with myriad colours and other printing differences, have resulted in more than 2,000 different specimens for both novice and specialist collectors.”
A special jubilee emblem, created for use in Canadian celebrations, is used on the stamp issue and OFDC cancel. It was drawn by Cathy Bursey-Sabourin, Fraser Herald, of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
This year marks the 70thth anniversary – and Platinum Jubilee – of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. No previous British monarch has reigned long enough to celebrate a platinum (70-year) jubilee. At just 25 years old, she ascended the throne on the death of her father, King George VI. On that day, February 6, 1952, came the proclamation from St. James’s Palace in London that “the High and Mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary” was now “Queen of this Realm and of all Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.”
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as Queen of Canada, has appeared on more than 70 Canadian stamps during her reign. She also appeared on four Canadian stamps when she was Princess Elizabeth (Source).
Source: Canada Post
The Canadian Platinum Jubilee Emblem:
Source: Government of Canada
ABOUT THE EMBLEM:
The Royal Cypher of Her Majesty The Queen, EIIR, appears at the centre of the emblem. It makes a personal reference to the Queen as a way of marking this significant anniversary of her reign. Below the Royal Cypher is the number 70, depicted in silver white to allude to the rare and precious metal platinum, the name of a jubilee marking 70 years.
These elements are framed by a 7-sided shape, along with 7 maple leaves and 7 pearls to mark the 7 decades of Her Majesty’s reign. Depicted in red and white, the national colours of Canada, these elements make several allusions to the idea of celebration. The Royal Crown appears at the top of the emblem.
The emblem was designed and painted by Cathy Bursey–Sabourin, Fraser Herald at the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
Learn more: Symbolism of the Canadian Platinum Jubilee emblem
The Royal Canadian Mint is also doing a few special coins marking the occasion. Here is a silver coin featuring a double portrait of the Queen and I think it’s pretty fantastic!
ABOUT THE COIN:
When Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II began her reign in 1952, the 25-year-old monarch could not have known the kinds of challenges Canada and the world would face, or how much progress she would witness. In many ways, the Queen of Canada came of age alongside this nation, embracing new and exciting developments, and adjusting to an ever-changing world with grace and dignity. Now, as Canada celebrates the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, this special edition proof silver dollar reflects upon the journey of our modern monarch and celebrates her 70 years of service (Source).
Source: The Royal Canadian Mint
The other collection is a two-coin set from The Royal Mint and the Royal Canadian Mint.
- The coin from The Royal Mint features the commemorative jubilee portrait of The Queen created by renowned sculptor John Bergdahl. The artist also designed the coin’s reverse, which was inspired by the coinage of William IV and makes use of the royal mantle surround.
- The coin from the Royal Canadian Mint features a reverse design by Pandora Young, who has captured Her Majesty as she looked in 1952, the year she became queen. The obverse features Susanna Blunt’s effigy of Her Majesty and shows the much-loved monarch we know today (Source).
Take a look at the coins in the video below (video link):
A Corgi parade in Ottawa was held on May 22nd (our Victoria Day long weekend) and it was a cute as it sounded (the Queen has had numerous corgis throughout her life). (video link)
I wanted to share the below image from October 16th, 1977 of the Queen visiting Ottawa during her Silver Jubilee tour. Why? I was born in May of 1977 and so I was around in the world (oblivious to it all LOL) during this time.
Special note: A Silver Jubilee endowment fund set up at the time Elizabeth marked 25 years as monarch in 1977 provides grants for university students to study in a second official language.
Source: cbc.ca
The Government of Canada has put together a list of actvities and resources for the Canadian celebration of the Jubilee and you can find that HERE.
Last note: I’m not oblivious to the issues the Monarchy has brought to this country (especially our Indigenous community) and so I will also be reflecting & learning more on these topics during this time.
Thanks for dropping by and if you are interested, join the conversation online! Use the hashtag #PlatinumJubilee to share your celebrations and stories!
Liz
