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Children Save

The War Saving Stamp program was targeted at children who, upon purchasing the stamps, indirectly contributed to help fund Canada's war effort. Children were some of the most enthusiastic collectors of War Stamps and they often made the following pledge:

We Pledge:

• To do all we can as young Canadians to help win the war
• To save our money and lend it to Canada by purchasing War Saving Certificates through collecting War Saving Stamps
• To buy as many War Saving Stamps as we can - either out of our allowances or with money earned throughout the year

War Saving Stamps

The War Saving Stamp Program was mostly hosted by educational institutions such as elementary schools. War Stamps cost 25 cents each and teachers would record the savings made by their students. Stamps were considered by the students as collector items and were placed in individual War Savings Passbooks. The ultimate goal of collecting War Stamps was to obtain a War Stamp Certificate. Once 16 stamps were purchased and collected ($4.00 value), they were exchanged for a War Savings certificate.

War Savings Certificate

A War Savings Certificate was considered paper proof that stamps were purchased. The money used to obtain the certificate was considered a loan made out by Canadian citizens (mostly children) to the government of Canada in its effort to win the Second World War. The certificate program worked in such a way that the federal government would return the money to the purchaser and pay interest on the original amount if the certificate was redeemed after a one year period. However, certificates redeemed before 12 months bore no interest. Interest rates sat at 1%, accrued annually. They grew to 3% only if the certificates remained unredeemed for 7.5 years or longer.

The federal government benefited from the War Saving Stamps and War Savings Certificate program. The program encouraged patriotism and funded much of Canada's war effort.

Children Save Gallery