By Mike Walsh
The “high-powered” exhibits, “outstanding jury,” “larger dealer bourse” and “all the reunions” at the first in-person Royal*Royale, since COVID-19 made for a memorable gathering for Canadian philatelists in London, Ont.
“I think it’s gone even better than we thought it would,” said Gregg Redner, president of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC). “We had many fine dealers and an unbelievable collection of exhibits that are very high standard. And having such an amazing jury pool, with jurists from as far as Australia, and the U.S, it’s really been a high-end show.”
Hosted by the London-Middlesex Stamp Club, Royal *2023* Royale was held in conjunction with the popular Canpex show at London’s Hellenic Community Centre. This year’s theme focused on the 150th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The opening ceremony included a Mountie wearing the iconic red tunic, Stetson hat, and high brown boots that are defining elements of the RCMP’s ceremonial uniform.
“I would describe it as being very successful,” said Canpex co-chair John Sheffield. “The quality of exhibits was amazing. There was a larger dealer bourse, so collectors were happy with that and being able to see dealers they normally wouldn’t see.”
Sheffield said the attendance for the three-day show in London, Ont., was “very good.” The Canpex show is held annually in October on a Saturday and Sunday. “If you take the three-day attendance (Friday to Sunday) and put it into two days, I think you could safely say the place was jam-packed,” he added.
Co-chair Steve Johnson, who focussed on the exhibition, was ecstatic with the response to this year’s competition.
“We were over-subscribed for exhibits,” he said. “We had 182 frames in total with 22 gold or large gold exhibits. We had exhibitors from as far away as New Zealand and Australia.”
Johnson, who is also an accredited judge, described the exhibits as “high-powered as usual for a Canpex and especially for a Royal. They covered a great variety of subjects. We also had a high-powered jury with jurists from Australia, the United States, from both coasts of Canada, and one from Quebec. From my point of view, this is probably one of the strongest exhibits we have had. It was just superb. We received a lot of compliments on the exhibits.”
Sheffield said “at least four exhibitors had to be turned away” this year as no space was left, however, organizers have guaranteed these exhibitors placement in next year’s Canpex. “It looks great for the future,” he added.
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