The 88th Convention of The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC)—known as “Royal*2016*Royale”—opens today in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont.
The convention runs Aug. 19-21 and has free on-site parking and no admission fee. It’s the first time in 66 years “Canada’s national stamp exhibition” has been hosted in Kitchener-Waterloo (the previous event, in late April 1960, happened less than one year after the Canadian Philatelic Society earned its “Royal” designation from then-Governor General Vincent Massey).
This year’s show is being held at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex on 101 Father David Bauer Dr. in Waterloo.
RPSC President George Pepall, who also serves as treasurer of the Kitchener-Waterloo Philatelic Society (KWPS) (this year’s host club), said the recreation complex is “not just a hockey arena” but a “tremendous site” for a philatelic convention. And with three side-by-side meeting rooms to hold the various society meetings and seminars; plenty of natural light; and a secure, tucked-away room in which the exhibits can safely be stored, there’s much to be excited about.
“We got a tremendous site,” said Pepall. “It will meet our needs really well, partly because the rink is oversized – it’s an Olympic-sized rink – so we can place any group of dealers or exhibits anywhere we want.”
NO ELECTION
There will be no election at this year’s AGM in Waterloo.
There are five nominees for the seven positions on the RPSC board of Directors for the 2016-18 term, and all five are being acclaimed to office. The terms of six directors expire at this year’s AGM; however, three—John Beddows, Rob McGuinness and David Piercey—have reached their term limits under the society’s by-law and are non-eligible for re-election.
“They are to be commended for their hard work and service and will be honoured at Waterloo,” reads the RPSC website. “The three Directors who are standing for re-election are Robert Pinet, Jim Taylor and Ernie Wlock. Two others were nominated: Ed Kroft and Rob Timberg. Ed Kroft, Robert Pinet, Jim Taylor, Rob Timberg and Ernie Wlock will be acclaimed. Their bios will appear in the May/June issue of TCP [The Canadian Philatelist].”
OPENING CERMONIES
The show begins with opening ceremonies at 9:30 a.m. The exhibition and bourse will be open to the public from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both today and Saturday and until 4 p.m. on Sunday, the show’s closing day.
Later today, shortly after the show opens, the RPSC will host a directors meeting. This afternoon, the RPSC Fellows Meeting is also slated to take place.
Tomorrow at 10 a.m., the RPSC is scheduled to host its annual general meeting (AGM). Another RPSC directors meeting is expected to follow the AGM.
At 1 p.m., recent Geldert Medal recipient David Piercey is scheduled to lead a Philatelic Specialists Society of Canada meeting.
“It’s partly because he’s the Geldert Medal winner, but he’s also highly experienced and very competent at this,” said Pepall. “He’s had a banner year this year because he’s doing those exhibiting articles in The Canadian Philatelist as well.”
The RPSC President’s Reception and Awards Banquet is scheduled for Saturday evening at 6:15 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.
“There will be recognition of a number of people there by the Royal as well as the judges.”
On Sunday morning, the judging panel will host its critique followed by the junior exhibits judging at 1 p.m. Piercey is again scheduled to speak alongside noted exhibitor Rodney Paige about the new American Philatelic Society Manual of Philatelic Judging and Exhibiting. This is to be followed by a presentation on Chinese philately by author and collector Andrew Chung and the junior exhibits awards ceremony.
Pepall said Stuart Keeley and Yvon Latulippe will also be running a session for new and returning collectors.
“That will consist mainly of meeting with representatives of as many chapters as show up for it to decide a plan for youth philately and engaging older returning or brand new collectors.”
For more information about the 88th Convention of the RPSC, visit kwstampclub.org/royal-2016-royale-national-stamp-exhibition/.
EXHIBITS
Nearly 200 frames of competitive exhibits are here from across Canada and abroad and are being judged by an international panel of judges. The Grand Award Exhibit will join other winners in next year’s World Series of Philately Competition.
There will also be five Court of Honour exhibits, including a “Double Heads” of Rhodesia exhibit by Rhodesia specialist Alan Hanks; as well as noted judge Sam Chiu’s exhibit on “Frogs and Toads,” which was “successful at the world level,” said Pepall.
On the topic of judging, Pepall added: “Geoffrey Lewis is going to come all the way from Australia to judge and go straight home because he runs a business. He’s also bringing a competitive exhibit of his own, and one on the city of Guelph, which is interesting.”
In addition to at least 120 frames of competitive exhibits, the show will feature about 15 dealers from across Canada and abroad; various philatelic society information tables; a youth camp with three two-hour modules; and seminars of interest to stamp collectors of all ages.
Pepall said while the organizing committee is “still taking dealers,” there are currently about 15 registered for the bourse.
“We have high-quality dealers, and we do have one American dealer and one British dealer coming, so there is a small international flavour.”