HAY RIVER - A new postage stamp containing an image from Hay River was officially released on July 6.

The stamp – featuring the Inukshuk which stands in downtown Hay River – was welcomed by the community during a town hall ceremony.

A ceremony was held in Hay River on July 6 to mark the release of a postage stamp featuring the Inukshuk which stands in the community. Among those at the event were, left to right, former Hay River postmaster Millie Strang, Mayor Jean-Marc Miltenberger, Hay River North MLA Paul Delorey, Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen and John Abbot, Canada Post's local area manager from Yellowknife. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

It is believed to be the first postage stamp featuring a scene from Hay River.

Mayor Jean-Marc Miltenberger said the town takes great pride in the stamp.

"It's a momentous occasion," he said.

"It's good in all aspects for the town," the mayor added, saying it will be positive for tourism and in getting the town's name known worldwide.

Several dozen people attended the unveiling of a framed keepsake presented to the community by Canada Post. The keepsake features various images of and information on the stamp, along with a first-day cover.

First-day covers – collectable envelopes containing newly-issued stamps and special cancellations – were handed out to spectators

John Abbot, Canada Post's local area manager from Yellowknife, explained the stamp is part of a series on roadside attractions in Canada.

"From the rocky splendours of the West to the sweeping ocean vistas of the East, there are many wonders to see on a Canadian road trip, including some quirky manmade landmarks – like the amazing Inukshuk here in Hay River," Abbot said.

The Inukshuk – an ancient Inuit stone marker to guide travellers in the Far North – was constructed in 1978 for the Arctic Winter Games hosted by Hay River and Pine Point.

Other images included in this year's set of four stamps are the Ukrainian Easter egg in Vegreville, Alta.; the Watson Lake, Yukon, sign post forest; and Mr. PG, an eight-metre-high log man in Prince George, B.C.

In 2010, four more stamps will feature landmarks from Central Canada, while landmarks in the East will be highlighted in 2011. Abbot said the stamps are as entertaining and whimsical as the iconic attractions they celebrate, and the lively colour and cartoonish nature communicate the originality of the attractions.

"But don't take my word for it, check out the stamps and see for yourself," he said.

Abbot said Canada Post's stamps attempt to capture Canada and what it means to be Canadian and showcase it to the world.

"The stamp that we're unveiling today does just that," he said. "It celebrates a remarkable landmark that is fundamentally Canadian and speaks to who we are as a people."

Hay River stamp collector Chris Robinson said the town is one of the smallest communities in Canada to be honoured with a postage stamp.

The 54-cent stamp will have a printing of one million copies.