Canadian Mackay Committee Petitions for Stamp Honouring Oxford College and Oxford County

In 1880 the Woodstock Sentinel-Review initiated possibly Canada’s first overseas development project—raising funds from the people of Oxford County for the construction of a school in Taiwan, in support of the work of The Rev. Dr. George Leslie Mackay, the first Christian (Presbyterian) missionary from Canada to Taiwan (then known as Formosa).

On October 11, 1881, $6215 was presented to Rev. Mackay at a meeting of 1500 people held at the Woodstock Methodist Church, chaired by the local Anglican priest, and attended by the premier of Ontario, Oliver Mowatt.

On July 26, 1882 Oxford College was opened in Tamsui. Today it is a national historic site, commemorating the beginning of modern education in Taiwan. In 1884 Mackay expanded it to found Taiwan’s first school for women.

We ask Canada Post to issue a stamp in 2012 for the 130th anniversary of this important event in Canadian and Taiwanese history. We encourage them to work with the Post Office in Taiwan to make this a joint commemorative issue.

This Petition will be forwarded to Member of Parliament for Oxford, Dave Mackenzie for presentation to Canada Post.



Please download and print the attached petition form to collect signatures at your church. Upon completion, please return to Wilma Welsh at the address provided on the petition form.