By Bala Yogesh,
Special to The Post

Canada Post on Friday unveiled a new commemorative stamp to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, first of a kind partnership with India Post. The postage stamp was revealed at the at the Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver as part of the Diwali Gala hosted by the BC India Business Network (BCIBN), an organization that helps and maintains economic and cultural ties between B.C., and India.

In welcoming guests, BCIBN President Catherine Sas Q.C. emphasized the significance of trade between BC and India noting that "the BCIBN provides a unique opportunity to network with likeminded business people who are interested in forging business and cultural ties between BC and India".

The BCIBN welcomed Minister of Public Service and Procurement, Carla Qualtrough along with BC Minister of Labour, Harry Bains, BC Minister for Jobs, Trade and Technology, Bruce Ralston and BC's new Consul General for India,  Abhilasha Joshi to unveil both the Canadian and Indian commemorative Diwali stamps. 

Qualtrough, also Minister for Canada Post, told attendees at the Diwali Gala that the strength of Canada is its diversity and that Canada's multiculturalism is its valuable asset. 

“This is an historic celebration that we can all take pride in, it’s a telling of an important story and it should come as a no surprise that Canada Post is one of its story tellers,” Qualtrough said on the significance of the stamp and the partnership with India Post.

Diwali is one of the major festivals of India and many other countries. The festival of light signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and hope over despair. Diwali is celebrated by the Hindus, Sikh, Buddhists and Jains communities.

Joshi said that the unveiling of the stamp is a very opportune moment and congratulated both Canada Post and India Post on their partnership.

“Stamps are symbol of nation’s sovereignty and over the years they have become cultural ambassadors,” Joshi said. “When they release these type of joint stamps, it really becomes the symbol of love, friendship of the two countries that come together.”

The partnership was initially agreed in February when the representatives of India Post and Canada Post held a series of bilateral meetings to enhance the relationship between the two postal services. The Indian Cabinet ministers on August 30 agreed to the stamp pact and India Post unveiled its version of the stamp in New Delhi on September 21.

The event at Fairmont Waterfront was the second annual Diwali event hosted by BCIBN and several members of Canada Post and Air Canada were also present at the event. Air Canada were the patron sponsors of the event and it was recently revealed that the Vancouver – Delhi seasonal service will be expanded to five times a week. Miss Fraser Valley 2017, Philipa Shauna Dutt and Miss Teen Canada 2014 Aashritha Royyuru were also present at the event.