Quebec’s leading philatelic research society is celebrating a digital milestone as the l’Académie québécoise d’études philatéliques (AQÉP) marks the fifth anniversary of its website, aqep.net, underscoring how central the online platform has become to its mission of sharing Quebec’s stamp history and research.
Launched on Nov. 1, 2020, the site has steadily built an audience. Over its first five years, it drew more than 6,000 visitors who generated about 31,500 page views. Most traffic came from Canada, which accounted for roughly 87 per cent of visits, but the site has also attracted readers from France, the United States, Belgium and several other countries, reflecting growing international interest in Quebec philately.
AQÉP uses the site as a digital library for the work of its members, who now number over 75 since the organization’s founding in 1982. The portal gives visitors access to a large archive of research articles, conference papers and displays, including material originally published in Les Cahiers de l’Académie, the group’s long-running journal. In all, more than 2,400 documents can be consulted online, ranging from traditional studies to modern thematic work.
The website also highlights members’ contributions to other respected publications, including Philatélie Québec, Philabec and the Bulletin d’histoire postale et de marcophilie. A dedicated section showcases 35 specialized collections, while biographical notes and tribute pages honour current members, past contributors and honorary fellows who have shaped the Académie’s development.
Today AQÉP counts about 50 members and friends, among them noted Canadian stamp engraver Yves Baril. Their interests span a wide range of fields: classic and modern issues, topical collecting, cinderellas, revenues and the postal history of Quebec, Canada and beyond. Taken together, the group’s output documents more than four decades of philatelic research in the province.
Alongside its web presence, AQÉP continues to publish Les Cahiers de l’Académie, its Les Capsules philatéliques series and a regular members’ newsletter. Collectors wishing to learn more about the Académie or explore its online resources can visit aqep.net or contact the group by email at aqep.net@gmail.com.