Through the lens: Celebrating the coastal grey wolf and Canada Post’s wolf stamp

This summer, Canada Post issued new stamps celebrating wolves and their important role as a keystone species. Each stamp offers a glimpse of wolves in Canadian landscapes, but one in particular is near and dear to our hearts: the coastal grey wolf. 

The coastal wolves featured in the new stamp issue were photographed by Michelle Valberg, one of Canada’s most celebrated wildlife and nature photographers. Michelle’s work is driven by a deep connection to wildlife and wild places, inviting viewers to engage, reflect, and care more deeply about conservation and our shared planet. This is her fifth Canada Post stamp – an honour that, for her, never grows old.

We posed a few questions to Michelle about this new and exciting stamp series and what this recognition means for the future of wolves.

Why do you think Canada Post chose wolves for this stamp series?

While I can’t speak for Canada Post, I think wolves were a wonderful choice because they’re such an iconic part of Canada’s wilderness. They live in some of the most beautiful and remote landscapes across the country, and most Canadians will never have the opportunity to see one in the wild. Wolves are so incredibly intelligent and social animals. They are often misunderstood. There’s still so much fear and mythology surrounding them. I think this series gives Canadians the opportunity to see wolves differently – to appreciate their beauty and their resilience, and the important place they hold in our natural world. 

Tell me about the photograph that is depicted on the coastal grey wolf stamp. Do you remember the story behind this particular photograph? Where were you, and what do you remember about the wolf and that moment?

We were on Vancouver Island, and we were hunkered down in a natural hide near a humpback whale that had been washed ashore, and we were waiting quietly, hoping that wolves might come out of the forest. And eventually five of them appeared. It was so exciting, but they sensed that we were there, and four of them quickly disappeared back into the trees.

But one wolf stayed, and he seemed every bit as curious about us as we were about him. He laid down, sat up, wandered around a rock, peeked out at us, and then slowly he came even closer. For a few extraordinary moments, there was a quiet connection between us, and eventually he barked and disappeared back into the forest. It was wild, intimate, and completely exhilarating, and definitely a moment at a time I will never forget.

How can a stamp series like this influence the way Canadians see wolves?

I really believe that there is something very powerful about putting an animal like a wolf on a stamp. It brings the wild into people’s everyday lives. That tiny image travels across the country, arrives in homes and passes through countless hands. My hope is that they’re looked at and paid attention to. And for some people, it might be the first time that they really stop and look closely at a wolf.

Perhaps they will see curiosity instead of menace or intelligence instead of fear. Photography can challenge the stories we have been told about, and I hope this series helps Canadians see wolves with a little bit more understanding, respect and wonder.

A photograph can make people stop and look at an animal they might otherwise never think about. What do you hope happens after someone stops and looks at the wolves you photographed on this stamp?

I hope the photograph sparks curiosity. I hope people want to learn more about wolves, maybe how they live, how deeply connected they are to one another, and how important they are to the ecosystems they inhabit. Wolves are misunderstood for the most part. When people begin to understand an animal, fear can give way to respect, and when we feel respect in connection, we are far more likely to care about what happens to that animal.

So ultimately, I hope someone looks at the stamp, sees the wolf as an individual, and feels inspired to protect wolves and the wild places they need to survive.

In addition to the coastal grey wolf, this collection also features a grey wolf (Canis lupus), an Arctic grey wolf (C.l. arctos) and an eastern wolf (Canis sp. cf. lycaon). Stamps and collectibles are available at canadapost.ca and at select postal outlets across Canada.