Robert Carswell has been appointed to the board of directors of The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC) after the resignation of Robert Timberg for personal reasons.
Carswell will serve the rest of Timberg’s term until June 2020, at which time he is eligible to stand for re-election.
“Bob is an outstanding philatelist and has been involved in club activities in Quebec for many years,” said RPSC President Ed Kroft. “He brings to the board his years of experience in legal practice and should contribute to our development of the strategic plan.”
FORMER LAWYER
A Montreal native, Carswell began practising law in 1964 with law firms in Quebec’s largest city. These include Fraser Milner Casgrain (now Dentons Canada LLP).
In 2000, he moved to Toronto and began practising as a commercial law specialist at Fraser Milner Casgrain, where he met and became friends with senior corporate partner and esteemed philatelist Harry Sutherland.
For more than 50 years, Sutherland played a large part in the management and direction of not only Canadian philately but of the continent and the world.
Carswell officially retired in 2004 and moved back to Montreal in 2010.
He collects short-lived countries and lost causes, including:
- Fiume (exhibited);
- New Republic and Stellaland (exhibited);
- Ionian Islands (exhibited);
- Confederate States (exhibited but sold collection);
- Heligoland (sold collection);
- Karelia;
- North Ingermanland (exhibited); and
- Tuscany.
He is a member of the Lakeshore Stamp Club in Montreal and the North Toronto Stamp Club. He is also a member of The RPSC, Fédération québécoise de philatélie, American Philatelic Society, Transvaal Study Circle, the Philatelic Society of Greater South Africa and the Italy and Colonies Study Circle.