| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Date of Issue | August 28, 2023 |
| Year | 2023 |
| Quantity | 200,000 |
| Denomination |
 PERMANENT™ (P).Current monetary value: $0.92. |
| Series | Quebec Feminists |
| Series Time Span | 2023 |
| Postal Administration | Canada |
| Condition | Name | Avg Value |
|---|
This stamp issue honours three Quebec activists who played a major role in building a more just and equal society.
This stamp issue pays tribute to the dedicated and influential Quebec feminists who have been at the forefront of the fight for women's and workers' rights, as well as other social and economic inequalities in the province.
Their tireless efforts have shaped society, leaving a lasting impact on generations to come. The issue features powerful imagery, representing Quebec feminists' collective determination.
Léa Roback
Léa Roback (1903-2000) embraced the peace movement and saw unionization as a vehicle to stop exploitation of female workers.
Madeleine Parent
Madeleine Parent (1918-2012), a trade unionist, also advocated for Indigenous women and their struggle to amend the Indian Act.
Simonne Monet-Chartrand
Simonne Monet-Chartrand (1919-93), a defender of human rights and pacifist, took on many women’s causes and organized anti-nuclear initiatives.
Designed by Paprika, each stamp features a powerful photograph capturing the essence of these activists during the peak of their activism.
The white border surrounding the images symbolizes the placards carried proudly during protest rallies, picket lines and marches, representing their collective determination and impact in shaping a more just and equal society.
The Quebec Feminists issue honours three Quebec activists who played a major role in building a more just and equal society.
Pay tribute to the dedicated and influential Quebec feminists who have been at the forefront of the fight for women's and workers' rights, as well as other social and economic inequalities in the province.
Their tireless efforts have shaped society, leaving a lasting impact on generations to come. The issue features powerful imagery, representing Quebec feminists' collective determination.
“Always be true to yourself.”
Montréal-born Simonne Monet-Chartrand (1919-93) joined the Jeunesse étudiante catholique (JEC) when she was 18 years old. A devout Christian who was vocal in her criticism of the Church’s authoritarianism, she agitated all her life for social justice. Mother of seven children, she was resolutely committed to non-violence.
In the 1960s, she participated in the founding of the pacifist organization Voice of Women and co-founded the Fédération des femmes du Québec (FFQ).
She attended Concordia University’s Simone de Beauvoir Institute, dedicated to feminist studies. She was also the assistant director of Quebec’s Ligue des droits et libertés.
Her determination to end injustices took her, among other places, to Moscow for the World Congress of Women. Professionally, she worked as a writer and researcher for various Radio-Canada radio and television programs about women and public affairs, including Fémina, Femme d’aujourd’hui and 5D.
A prolific author, she wrote several books on Quebec women, as well as a four-volume autobiography, Ma vie comme rivière.
In 1992, she received the Prix Idola-Saint-Jean from the FFQ for her contributions to half a century of change and progress for women.
This Official First Day Cover is featured in black and white. The front of the cover depicts a powerful still image, procured from Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, Montréal, of Simonne Monet-Chartrand circa 1972 sitting at her desk, sorting through papers.
The back of the cover includes her name at the top, displayed in large capital letters, with a biography below it that includes facts about Monet-Chartrand and her incredible accomplishments, appearing in both French and English. The cancel location is Montréal, Quebec.
Born in Montréal, Simonne Monet-Chartrand began her activism in the 1930s when she joined the Jeunesse étudiante catholique (part of the Catholic youth movement) and its women’s branch, Jeunesse étudiante catholique féminine. A devout Christian, her efforts to modernize the institution underpinned her lifelong mission for social justice.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Monet-Chartrand worked as a writer, researcher and panelist on Radio-Canada programs such as Fémina and Femme d’aujourd’hui. She participated in the founding of the pacifist organization Voice of Women in the 1960s. She was part of the Voice of Women delegation to Moscow in 1963, for the Women’s International Democratic Federation’s World Congress of Women, which focused on peace, disarmament, unity and women’s rights. In 1966, she co-founded the Fédération des femmes du Québec (FFQ).
A prolific author, Monet-Chartrand wrote several books on Quebec women, as well as a four-volume autobiography, Ma vie comme rivière. In 1992, she received the Prix Idola-Saint-Jean from the FFQ for her contributions to half a century of change and progress for women.
“Her father was a judge, and very early in her life, before she was a teenager, he would always tell her, ‘You’re as smart as a man. Think about this and make sure you are valued as a woman. You’re a brilliant, intelligent girl,’” says Alain Chartrand, one of her seven children. “It gave her enormous self-confidence. She was never afraid of the authorities, neither church nor police.”
For decades, Quebec women have been at the forefront of women’s and workers’ rights and the fight to redress social and economic inequalities in their province. While the movement for women’s rights continues, the work of three Canadian women stands apart.
The new stamp issue highlights the lives and achievements of three Quebec women who were lifelong advocates for workers’ and women’s rights and other causes: Léa Roback, Madeleine Parent and Simonne Monet-Chartrand. Their activism foreshadowed many of the advancements made in equality and justice in Canada.