Author Archives: mwalsh
In praise of letter writing
My only sister – and of course, my favourite sister! – has reminded me of the joy of receiving a letter in the mail. Before I expand on her recent letters, I want to share a little more about Susan, who resides with her husband in rural Alberta. Over the course of her many years... Continue reading →
Hobby gets well-deserved national exposure
I received a pleasant “stamp” surprise while reading the newspapers at my in-laws over the Christmas holidays. It’s a morning routine to grab a cup of coffee and sit next to my father-in-law Tom as he hands over sections of the London Free Press and his hometown paper, the St. Thomas Times-Journal. Before I go... Continue reading →
Collectors, dealers, volunteers ensure the shows will go on
“The goal of a stamp show is to meet the needs of a diverse constituency.” That quote served as the basis for discussion at the recent “Summit on the Future of Philately” spearheaded by the American Philatelic Society (APS). In reviewing the report that came out of the summit, I’m happy to discover the participants... Continue reading →
Peter Butler a ‘catalyst’ of philately
The recent tribute paid to Peter Butler was a super way to cap off a wonderful year for Canada’s philatelic community. My wife, Karen, and I were honoured to be invited to attend the recent annual banquet of the Philatelic Specialists Society of Canada. It’s a wonderful evening of socializing with some of Canada’s –... Continue reading →
Helping to restore the philatelic vision
By now you have read, or heard about, some of the suggestions from the task force looking into the long-term viability of Canada Post. What’s missing from the 102-page report is any real focus on philately. The closest the report gets to mentioning philately is the following reference in the executive summary: “Public opinion research... Continue reading →
‘Craftsmanship and quality’ key to enticing younger collectors
I usually find myself chuckling as I’m listening to my favourite radio station during my 50-minute morning commute to my St. Catharines office. But I found myself annoyed one recent morning when the hosts were talking about collecting and hobbies. They talked about numerous things people collect, but when the male host mentioned stamps, his... Continue reading →
CP’s Star Trek journey ‘hailing on all frequencies’
Canada Post’s Star Trek 50th Anniversary series is a hit with Canadian collectors as well as our friends south of the border. This was evident at the World Stamp Show hosted in New York City this past May. Canada Post’s Star Trek-themed display was captivating. While the booth dwarfed in size compared to its neighbour... Continue reading →
Canadian philatelists making a world of difference
Philatelists around the world are 'pumped up' about the hobby following the massive, once-in-a-decade World Stamp Show.
I, along with several other Canadians, cannot help but be pumped up about our hobby after spending a week with philatelists from around the world. I am referring to the tens of thousands of collectors – of all ages and languages – who gathered in New York City recently for the World Stamp Show, which... Continue reading →