Centenary of the Boundary Waters Treaty
Canada Post issued a domestic rate commemorative stamp on 12 June in celebration of the centenary of the Boundary Waters Treaty that has guided Canada and the United States in managing their shared boundary waters. Water is the most crucial requirement for life as we know it, and the ability of nations and peoples to share this precious resource is an ongoing challenge for humanity.
“It was a groundbreaking treaty that proved that nations can share rather than fight over water rights,” according to Robert Waite, Chairman of the Stamp Advisory Committee and Senior vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility at Canada Post. “The treaty established the International Joint Commission (IJC), which was the first permanent Canadian-American body, and continues to settle and prevent disputes over boundary waters today.”
The unique stamp design is a spectacular combination of images from Niagara Falls. The background depicts a historic sepia-tone image of the American Falls while the foreground shows a modern photo of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls lit up at night in a glorious rainbow of colours. “There’s a remarkable transition as the Falls of yesteryear transform through the mist into the Falls of the present day,” says designer Paul Haslip. “It’s a wonderful way to celebrate 100 years of the Treaty.”
“The stamp catches the essence of the falls and in combining the historical, present and future in the design, it signifies the longevity of the Boundary Waters Treaty and its present and future use to prevent and resolve disputes over the shared fresh waters of Canada and the United States,” While the treaty contains general provisions that apply to all boundary waters, resolutions for disputes in only two specific locations are mentioned in the Treaty, the Niagara River and the St. Mary and Milk Rivers. As the stamp features Niagara, Cardston was chosen as the cancel site because it is the home to the post office closest to where the St. Mary River and the Milk River first flow into Canada.
Courtesy - Poste Canada