Toronto, Ontario

Popular Canadian music icons Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Anne Murray, and Paul Anka have been honoured with a set of commemorative stamps designed by Circle in Winnipeg. The CD-shaped Canadian Recording Artists booklets puts a new spin on this type of collectible. There are four different booklets, with each cover featuring the image of one of the recording artists. Inside, the stamps are arranged in one of four different orders, with the singer featured on the cover appearing in the top-left position. The booklets also include envelope seals and information about the featured artist. In addition, a souvenir sheet, official first day cover, and postcards are available.

These limited edition stamps are now available through post offices across the country, can be ordered online by following the links at Canada Post’s website www.canadapost.ca, or by calling toll-free: 1-800-565-4362 (Canada and the United States), or 902-863-6550 (from other countries).

Manitoba, Canada

I have just acquired a butter-coloured 1981 VW Westfalia camper van. Powered (?!) by a 2 L air-cooled engine, she is fully equipped with all the necessities of a nomadic base camp—a pop-top, fold-out beds, 3-way refrigerator, running water, two-burner propane stove, and loads of storage room. Christened “Bettie” (ask me about that some time), she’s already proving very convenient for weekend outings to the granite cliffs of NW Ontario…