5 stamps honour historic covered bridges from all across Canada

OTTAWA — Canada Post has issued five stamps that depict five historic covered bridges across the country. The issue is intended to pay tribute to their engineering and design and their role in transportation and recognize them as important symbols of community life in rural Canada, stated a June 17 release.

At the end of the 19th century, the country had more than 1,400 covered bridges; today, an estimated 140 or so remain. Of the more than 400 covered bridges that once existed in New Brunswick, about 60 still stand, including the longest in the world. Quebec now has about 80. Ontario has only one historic covered bridge, as does British Columbia.

Bridges were covered to protect their load-bearing structure from the elements and extend their useful life. These bridges are featured on the stamps:

Hartland Covered Bridge, N.B.

With a 391-metre span, this bridge across the Saint John River is the longest covered bridge in the world. The original bridge was open; the cover was added in 1922.

Powerscourt (Percy) Bridge, Que.

This bridge across the Chateauguay River was built in 1861 and is considered Canada’s oldest covered bridge. With a span of 50 metres, it was built with strong and rigid McCallum inflexible arched trusses. It is the only known bridge left in the world of that McCallum design.

DCNDW_CoveredBridgeStampMontrose(WEB) — 1/5
CANADA POST — The West Montrose Covered Bridge crossing the Grand River in the Region of Waterloo in Ontario opened in 1881 and is last remaining historic covered bridge in the province.

DCNDW_CoveredBridgeStampPowerscourt(WEB) — 2/5
CANADA POST — The Powerscourt (Percy) Bridge across the Chateauguay River in Quebec was built in 1861 and is considered Canada’s oldest covered bridge.

DCNDW_CoveredBridgeStampHartland(WEB) — 3/5
CANADA POST — With a 391-metre span, the Hartland Covered Bridge across the Saint John River in New Brunswick is the longest covered bridge in the world.

DCNDW_CoveredBridgeStampFelix(WEB) — 4/5
CANADA POST — Quebec’s Felix-Gabriel-Marchand Bridge crossing the Coulonge River is the longest covered bridge in Quebec, at 152 metres.

DCNDW_CoveredBridgeStampAshnola(WEB) — 5/5
CANADA POST — British Columbia’s Ashnola No. 1 Bridge over the Similkameen River was originally a railway bridge serving the gold industry. Its railway tracks were removed in 1954 and it was opened to vehicles in 1961.

Felix-Gabriel-Marchand Bridge, Que.

Known locally as the Marchand Bridge or simply the Red Bridge, this is the longest covered bridge in Quebec, at 152 metres. It crosses the Coulonge River near the village of Fort-Coulonge. Built in 1898, it is one of the oldest surviving covered bridges in Quebec.

West Montrose Covered Bridge, Ont.

This is Ontario’s last remaining historic covered bridge. It crosses the Grand River in the Waterloo region. It opened in 1881. Often referred to as “the kissing bridge,” the 60-metre bridge is true to its original design, but the concrete and steel parts added later increased its lifespan. Scenes in the 2017 horror movie It, based on a Stephen King novel, were filmed around the bridge.

Ashnola No. 1 Bridge, B.C.

Built as a railway bridge over the Similkameen River in 1907, it was first used during the region’s gold mining era. Known locally as the Red Bridge, the 135-metre bridge had its railway tracks removed in 1954 and was opened to vehicles in 1961. It is British Columbia’s only remaining historic covered bridge.

The official first day cover souvenir sheet is cancelled in Hartland, N.B.