New Canadian Stamps Feature Stained-Glass Windows From Kingston, Ontario Church

Canada Post today issued four new stamps for the holiday season, including a three-part set featuring historic stained-glass windows of the Cathedral of Saint-Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Kingston, Ontario.

The stained-glass windows in the century-and-a half old Cathedral were originally imported from England. Over the years, several installation projects, additions and changes have been undertaken, including a complete restoration of the windows that began in 1993, and used many of the same methods employed over the past thousand years.

All three Stained Glass stamps (Permanent domestic, U.S. and International) measure 24 mm x 32 mm (vertical) with simulated perforations and pressure sensitive gum and are printed by Lowe-Martin on Tullis Russell paper using lithography in seven colours plus spot varnish. The Permanent domestic stamps are available in booklets of 12 stamps and the U.S. and International each in booklets of six. A souvenir sheet of all three stamps is also available. The Official First Day Cover will be cancelled in Kingston, Ontario. The Christmas Holly PERMANENT stamp measures 24 mm x 24 mm (square). Printed by Lowe-Martin on Tullis Russell paper using lithography in five colours plus varnish and pressure sensitive gum. The Official First Day Cover will be cancelled in Greenwood, British Columbia. The stamps are available in booklets of 12 stamps.

Nominations Being Accepted – International Day of Persons with Disabilities Access Award

The city of Kingston, Ontario is now accepting nominations for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities Access Award. This award recognizes contributions that improve access (beyond legislated requirements) for persons with disabilities.

Any individual, team, company or organization living or working in Kingston or involved in a project which directly benefits the citizens of Kingston can be eligible. The projects must have been developed within the past three years, and both new or renovated buildings are eligible. In addition to building projects, contributions could include employment programs, transportation systems or recreational programs.

Nomination forms (which can be downloaded here) must be submitted to the Accessibility Office, Attention: International Day of Persons with Disabilities Access Award, City Hall, 216 Ontario Street, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 2Z3 no later than 4:00 p.m. on October 31.

In partnership with the Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee (MAAC), the city of Kingston will present the awards in a ceremony on November 3, which also happens to be the officially recognised International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Tim Hortons Testing Up-sized Cups In Kingston

For the next month, residents of Kingston, Ontario, will be one of a two-part Canadian test market for up-sized brews from the popular donut and coffee chain, Tim Hortons. Sudbury is the other test location.

Persons who order a ‘medium’, will find that they’re given this in a large-size cup, and persons who order a large, will be given what is normally an extra large. For persons who would normally order the extra large ( 20-oz. (591 mL)), they will now be presented with a giant-sized 24 oz. (710 mL) cup. The former small cuppa – 8 oz. (210 mL) – is no more. The cheapest hot Tim’s coffee in the two test towns is now a 10 oz. (296 mL) cup, for $1.33 (i.e. the price of what was ‘medium’ last week).

According to reports, the up-sized servings are meant “to test consumer preferences and that the trend we have seen has been to larger sizes.” There have been denials that the move is an attempt to match Canadian offerings with those at Tim Horton’s outlets in the United States (which sell coffee only in the larger sizes).