KPU instructor wins stamp design from the Canada Post Community Foundation

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A design instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Wilson School of Design won best stamp design from the Canada Post Community Foundation this year. 

John Belisle’s stamp design features an owl, fox, and bear reading together in the moonlight. 

“It is really hard to have a small stamp that represents everybody, so that was the [reason] for using animals to represent different groups and using a metaphor for diversity,” Belisle says. 

The foundation supports initiatives such as literacy and language programs, projects supporting Indigenous youth, arts and recreation, and gender diversity programs. 

“The community stamp benefits underfunded communities and education groups for kids and mental health,” Belisle says. 

Belisle thought the reading theme would be a good focus for this particular design. 

“The community stamp often purchases huge amounts of books for different communities, so I used that as my entry point because books are something that can bring people together,” he says. 

“Storytelling is a known wave in our society and a way for kids to sit around and listen. Even though they are all different sizes and different types of animals, the one thing that could bring them together was a good story.” 

The Canada Post Community Foundation was founded in 2012 and has granted $12.3 million to over 1,000 Canadian community outlets in the past decade. 

“The grants range in value up to $25,000, with up to four $50,000 Signature Grants also available, including the Indigenous Truth and Reconciliation Signature Grant, introduced last year,” Lisa Liu, media relations spokesperson for Canada Post, wrote in an email statement to The Runner.

“The Indigenous Truth and Reconciliation Signature Grant, valued at $50,000 supports educational initiatives for children and youth that enhance understanding of Indigenous culture and foster meaningful conversations in the spirit of reconciliation,” Liu wrote. 

For this stamp, the Community Foundation accepts six to eight designs, and after narrowing it down, one design is voted in favour. 

“[They are] assessed by the Stamp Advisory Committee based solely on the concept with no names or portfolios included. From there, the top three to four concepts go to the employee vote,” she wrote. 

“This year, the stamp that was designed by John Belisle was selected by Canada Post frontline retail employees.” 

Belisle is proud his design won out of the submissions that the foundation was given. 

“It was a huge challenge, but it felt good to come up with a winning submission,” he says. 

Belisle hopes KPU students, especially design students, will get something out of this recognition.  

“It gives them a little bit of an opportunity to see what everybody does and see what their faculty does outside of school. All the faculty in the department are practising designers,” he says.  

“A lot of my design practices are designing for good. This stamp is the one that means the most to me.”