By Jesse Robitaille
The world’s most prominent British North America (BNA) collectors descended on Greater Halifax this September for BNAPEX 2023.
Standing tall against inclement weather, including heavy rain, strong winds and power outages amid the post-tropical storm Lee, the three-day show drew attendees from many parts of the world beyond Canada, including the United States, Argentina, Germany and the Netherlands. Under the banner of the British North America Philatelic Society (BNAPS), the Atlantic Regional Group teamed up with the Nova Scotia Stamp Club for the area’s first BNAPEX since 2008. It also marked the only major exhibition coming to Canada’s east coast this year.
“The show went off fantastically,” said BNAPEX co-chair Gary Steele, of Middle Sackville, N.S., who added “lots of people” attended the event despite the storm leaving more than 200,000 people without power.
About 30 millimetres of rain fell in Greater Halifax on Sept. 15-16, the show’s first two days, with peak winds of 117 km/h recorded at the Halifax airport.
“As people were wondering how the impending Hurricane Lee was going to impact things, they quickly settled into stamping mode, as philatelists do, and hunkered down for some good times,” said Steele, who was joined by fellow co-chairs George Lafontaine and Jeff Parks. “Members said they were very happy with the show overall and thought it was a great show right up to the president’s reception and the awards banquet on Sunday evening. As we have a strong BNAPS regional group and experienced members from the Nova Scotia Stamp Club, this really helped to make it a quality event.”
Organizers picked up the pieces from their earlier effort for BNAPEX 2020, cancelled due to COVID-19, by seeking a venue once pandemic restrictions were lifted last summer. After struggling to find a location amid steep competition with other event planners, they secured this year’s venue – the Dartmouth Best Western, just across the harbour from downtown Halifax – in January.
The hunt for a venue was just one of several challenges for organizers, who also came up against a wildfire and other stormy weather this spring and summer.
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