A set of Canada Post stamps show black cowboy John Ware.SUBMITTED IMAGE
In February of 2009 Canada Post started a series of postage stamps to honour Black History Month in Canada. Each year a new stamp or stamps is issued to remember black men and women who have helped to build our country.
In 2012 Canada Post released a stamp featuring John Ware, a black cowboy with strong ties to southern Alberta.
John Ware was born into slavery in the southern United States. At the end of the American Civil War he headed west to Texas and became a cowboy. In 1882 he participated in a large cattle drive for the North West Cattle Company to what is now southern Alberta and stayed.
He honed his cowboy skills and pioneered steer wrestling, winning his first competition at the Calgary Summer Fair of 1893.
John married Mildred Lewis and together they had five children. In 1900 they moved to a spot north-east of Duchess and set up their own ranch. Sadly, John was killed in 1905 when his horse tripped in a badger hole and John’s neck was broken in the fall.
This stamp was in the fairly new “P” denomination. At the time of issue, this “P” stamp was valued at 61 cents and was valid for standard letter rate in Canada for up to 30 grams. If you have any of these stamps today they are still valid for the standard rate which is now $1.24.
To learn more about Canadian History through our Postage stamps, why not attend one of our Club meetings. We meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 7:00PM at the Victory Lutheran Church.
Dennis Vickery
Collector’s Corner is contributed by the Medicine Hat Coin & stamp Club. For questions or comments about coin or stamp collection email medhatcsc@live.com
