Four Canadians will play key roles at the upcoming Boston 2026 World Expo, with Charles Verge, Sam Chiu and Ed Kroft named to the international jury and Ingo Nessel appointed as Canada’s national commissioner.
The trio will join a panel of 42 Fédération Internationale de Philatélie internationally accredited judges who will evaluate exhibits at the May 23 to 30, 2026 exhibition. As commissioner, Nessel will coordinate Canadian participation and serve as liaison between exhibitors and show organizers.
In addition to his role on the international jury, Verge has also been appointed to the Selection Advisory Committee for Boston 2026. This group is responsible for reviewing and selecting competitive exhibits – both philatelic and literature entries – once applications have closed. The committee also advises on the composition of the international jury and works with exhibition management and the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie consultant to ensure the exhibition program meets international standards.
Verge serves on the committee alongside three prominent international philatelists: Darrell Ertzberger, Peter McCann and James Mazepa, all of the United States. Each member of the group is an experienced gold-medal exhibitor as well as an APS national and FIP international juror.
According to Boston 2026, the international jury will adjudicate approximately 3,500 competitive exhibit frames and nearly 200 literature entries during the eight-day exhibition at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
Jurors have been appointed from 26 countries, ranging from Argentina to the United Kingdom. The largest contingent comes from the United States, with 11 judges.
The Jury Presidium will be led by President Peter McCann of the United States and Honorary President Prakob Chirakiti of Thailand. The team also includes regional vice presidents, consultants and secretaries responsible for overseeing the various competitive classes and ensuring compliance with FIP regulations.
Photographs and profiles of most jury members are available on the Boston 2026 website under the Commissioners & Judges section.
Boston 2026 World Expo is expected to draw exhibitors, dealers and collectors from around the world. Additional details about the exhibition, programming and visitor information are available at Boston2026.org and through the show’s official social media channels.