Canada Post commemorates filmmaker Norman Jewison

By David Hartwig

On July 24 Canada Post issued a stamp commemorating the life and legacy of Toronto-born filmmaker Norman Jewison (1926-2024).

Jewison directed the classic films In the Heat of the Night (1967), Fiddler on the Roof (1971) and Moonstruck (1987) earning nominations for best director at the Academy Awards in three consecutive decades.

The stamp shows Jewison at Toronto’s Canadian Film Centre, the film school he founded in 1988. In place of the denomination, the stamp has a “P” inside a symbolic maple leaf, indicating that it pays the permanent rate (currently 99¢).

Photographer Peter Bregg captured the image in 2007 for entertainment magazine HELLO! Canada, and it was Jewison himself who selected this image to be used on the stamp.

Prior to his death in January 2024, Jewison worked closely with Canada Post in the stamp’s development, according to an article on Canada Post’s Perspectives blog.

Canada Post says Jewison grew up as an avid stamp collector and was even sworn in by the postmaster so he could work in the post office of his father’s general store.

Born in Toronto on July 21, 1926, Jewison began his journey into filmmaking after his service in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II. He later attended the University of Toronto, where his passion for drama and film was ignited.

Jewison’s early career saw him working in television, first with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) in Canada and then with CBS in the United States, where he directed live dramas and variety shows. His transition to film in the 1960s marked the beginning of a series of critically acclaimed works that cemented his reputation as a director of substance and versatility.

One of Jewison’s most significant contributions to cinema came with the 1967 film In the Heat of the Night. The movie, starring Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger, addressed racial tensions in America and won five Academy awards, including best picture.

“His masterful blend of style and substance was evident throughout his films, which often tackled major social justice issues and shone a light on the experiences of marginalized communities,” Canada Post said.

Jewison continued to explore a range of themes in his subsequent films. The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) displayed his flair for stylish capers, while Fiddler on the Roof (1971) demonstrated his ability to adapt beloved stage musicals into compelling cinematic experiences. Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) and A Soldier’s Story (1984) further exemplified his versatility, tackling religious themes and military justice, respectively.

In 1987, Jewison directed Moonstruck, a romantic comedy that became both a critical and commercial success. The film earned Cher an Academy Award for best actress.

Throughout his career, Jewison has been recognized not just for his filmmaking but also for his contributions to the industry. In 1999 he received the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, at the Oscars for his body of work. The award is for producers, whose work reflects a consistently high quality of motion picture production.

The stamp is available in booklets of six. The quantity printed was 900,000 booklets, and the Canada Post ordering number is 414261111.

Canada Post produced 5,000 first-day covers for the stamp, canceled in Jewison’s hometown of Toronto. The cancel reproduces Jewison’s signature, and the front of the FDC features a 1979 black-and-white photograph of Jewison taken by Bob Olsen. The FDC product number is 414261131.

Both products were created by the graphic design firm Russell Gibbs Design and printed by Lowe-Martin.

Canada Post stamps and related items are available online. Stamps and FDCs are available by mail order from Canada Post Customer Service, Box 90022, 2701 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, ON K1V 1J8 Canada; or by telephone from the United States or Canada at 800-565-4362, and from other countries at 902-863-6550.

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