The Canadian Postal Museum (CPM) is housed within the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec. It has been described as one of the largest postal museums in the world, ranking second in annual attendance. The museum is not primarily about postage stamps, although it has a first-class collection that numbers in the tens of thousands. Rather, it presents the broader story of Canada’s postal heritage, including the social and economic importance of postal communications throughout the country’s history. It also explores international themes relating to postal communications.
The museum’s collections include a writing desk that belonged to Sandford Fleming, designer of Canada’s first postage stamp; Canadian and foreign letter boxes and postal uniforms; mail bags and rural mail boxes; post office signs and sorting equipment. The museum has a permanent exhibition, complemented by temporary or special exhibitions. Among the highlights is Reflections of Canada: the National Stamp Collection, which includes examples of every postage stamp ever issued in Canada. In addition to its public exhibitions, the museum has a mandate to collect, preserve and interpret material objects relating to Canada’s postal heritage.
The Canadian Postal Museum was established in 1971 and opened in 1974 as the National Postal Museum. It joined the Canadian Museum of Civilization in 1988, adopted its current name in 1996, and moved into a permanent space in the Museum of Civilization in 1997.
The Postal Museum is managed by the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, a federal Crown Corporation that is also responsible for the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Canadian War Museum, the Canadian Children's Museum, and the Virtual Museum of New France.
The Museum is affiliated with: CMA, CHIN, and Virtual Museum of Canada.
