Court House, Yorkton

The third in the series of splendid examples of Canadian architectural styles, featured in high-value definitive stamps, illustrate the Court House in Yorkton, Saskatchewan and the Provincial Normal School in Truro, Nova Scotia. This distinctive public landmark has been described as a striking example of the "Beaux-Arts" style of architecture in Canada, with its elaborate detail in stone and the symmetrical composition of the facade. Named for the "Ecole des Beaux-Arts" in Paris where it originated, architects came from around the world to study the style and then returned home to create architectural masterpieces. Examples include Toronto's Union Station, Dawson's Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and New York's Public Library and Grand Central Station. Built in 1919-1920, the Court House is the work of Saskatchewan's provincial architect, Maurice William Sharon. He is credited with designing many of that province's court houses and public buildings, but the Yorkton Court House stands alone as his greatest achievement. The building measures 17.9 x 31.9 metres (59 x 103 feet) and stands two stories high. One of the larger judicial buildings in the province, it has round-topped windows, stone carvings, projecting end bays and elaborate stone trim running around the top of the structure. Over the years no major alterations have been undertaken. The building still stands at 29 Darlington Street where it continues to serve as the local court house. Montreal designer Raymond Bellemare used visuals and research provided by Toronto architect Robert G. Hill to illustrate the building full-front from street-level. Bellemare produced highly accurate computer generated line drawings and then added the various colours and tones while removing the previously drawn lines. Both stamps bear a Plate 1 inscription in panes of 25 and are untagged.