Everything is coming together for the upcoming BNAPEX, the annual convention of the British North America Philatelic Society (BNAPS).
Co-chairs Gary Steele, George Lafontaine and Jeff Parks say attendance for the Sept. 15-18 convention in Halifax, N.S is looking good. All three are members of the Nova Scotia Stamp Club, which is co-hosting this year’s convention with the BNAPS Atlantic Regional Group.
“Several exhibits are going to be of a very high quality and remembered for years, similar to the 2008 convention in Halifax,” says Steele.
“We received the Grand Award and Reserve Grand in the mail this week, all matted and framed,” he adds. “A fantastic job by John Wiseman. The awards will be highly sought after by exhibitors at the convention.”
Steele says they have received 44 exhibit entries, totalling 142 frames.
Registration chair Robert Ferguson says they have received 85 enrolments as of Aug. 27. He expects this number will continue to climb up to the convention’s opening day, which is being held at the Best Western Plus Dartmouth Hotel and Suites. The three-day convention is open to the general public.
Bourse chair Claude Michaud says 12 dealers from across Canada will be selling, buying and available to appraise various philatelic materials.
Each convention day will feature seminars, study groups, the exhibition, and the popular bourse floor. While evenings are left open for attendees, Steele says there are plenty of events to join.
For example, participants can sign up for the lobster dinner on Friday evening at the Shore Club in Hubbards, which includes transportation. On Sunday evening, the awards banquet will be held at the convention venue, and organizers will host a hospitality suite each evening, starting Sept. 14.
“It’s a great opportunity for people to gather and to do things during and afterward,” says Steele, who is no stranger to BNAPEX, having attended many as a member and exhibitor.
As for souvenirs, Steele says organizers are excited to offer 10 picture postage stamps depicting folk art mailboxes found in Nova Scotia, compiled by Hugh Rathbun.
“Hugh also designed the cachets and special postmarks,” explains Steele. He says the covers will be sold in sets of 10, with only 35 sets available. To view the covers, visit bnaps.org/bnapex/bnapex2023-Halifax/souvenirs.htm.
While the last BNAPEX hosted by the Nova Scotia Stamp Club was in 2008, the club also hosted the annual convention of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC) in 2014. Club members also helped when BNAPEX was held in Prince Edward Island and Fredericton, N.B. “Our membership is quite spread out throughout Eastern Canada, so our members help wherever and whenever they can.”
“Members are working very hard to ensure things turn out as expected,” Steele says. “I am very happy to have such a dedicated group.”
For full convention details, including registration, exhibiting, events, and accommodations, visit bnaps.org.