Canada Post recently honoured Canadian roses and the Morden Research Centre with its proposal to use four Canadian Rose varieties in a collection of stamps.

     Unveiled at a ceremony at the Morden Research Centre in Manitoba, August 1, the Morden Centennial Rose, developed at the research centre by the late Dr. Henry Marshall was among the varieties chosen. The other proposed varieties included the Canadian White Star, developed by private breeder George Mander of Victoria, BC; The Agnes, the first rose developed by Agriculture Canada and bred by W. Saunders; and The Champlain, also released in 1980 at the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa.

     The stamps will be launched officially at the 2001 Stamp Show in Japan, giving the stamps and the roses international significance, says Canada Post spokesperson Brian Garrigan. The City of Morden and the Morden Research Centre will also be recognized.

     The idea of these stamps and Morden’s participation came about two years ago when Dr. Campbell Davidson, manager of the Morden Research Centre, submitted a series of 30 roses for consideration, two developed at the Centre and 18 from the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa.

     More information will be reported on these stamps as it becomes available.