Monday, March 21, 2011

1971 Pierre Laporte

Pierre Laporte (1921-1970) , Minister of Labour and Manpower in the Quebec provincial government, was kidnapped and killed by members of the Front de Libération du Québec during the 1970 "October Crisis".

Canada Post Office issued a stamp on October 20, 1971, to honour Pierre Laporte.


In October 2010, 40 years after his death, Pierre Laporte was honoured with a granite monument in Saint-Lambert near the site of his abduction. Quebec Premier Jean Charest who was on hand for the ceremony underlined the importance of remembering how Laporte died: "Pierre Laporte's sacrifice, his death, was a great injustice and we need to remember that so it never happens again."



National Archives of Canada

Essay


1921 (Year of Birth) - 1971 (Year of Stamp Issue)


Accepted Design

George A. Gundersen, British American Bank Note Company Limited, Ottawa, engraved the stamp from a photograph by Michel Giroux, of Montreal.



1921 (Year of Birth) - 1970 (Year of Death)




First Day Covers

Canada Post Office Publicity First Day Cover




Schering Corporation





Quebec-based Shering's cachet provided a vague statement of Laporte's death:

"It was at the peak of his career as Minister of Labour and Manpower, Minister of Immigration, and Parliamentary Leader, that he suffered a tragic and untimely death in 1970."

The October Crisis was a politically sensitive issue when the Laporte stamp was issued and controversy continues to this day.


Canada Envelope Company





Canada Envelope Company's insert simply states that Laporte died on October 17, 1970.


H & E







Canada Post Office Official First Day cover





The Canada Post Office insert states that Laporte died at the hands of kidnappers following his abduction by members of the Front de libération du Québec.


Rosecraft





Cole Cover




David Pritchard