Gregg Redner has stepped down as president of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC), citing concerns that his personal decision not to attend the Boston 2026 World Stamp Show could affect the organization’s reputation.
Redner, a fellow of both the Royal Philatelic Society London and the RPSC, has served as RPSC president since June 2023 and was re-elected for a second term in 2024. He announced his resignation in a message sent to members on April 8. His departure follows months of discussion surrounding his decision to boycott Boston 2026, scheduled for May 23 to 30.
In his message, Redner emphasized that his decision, first made in February 2025, was strictly personal and not intended to reflect the position of the RPSC.
“There has been much discussion over the past few months regarding my decision not to attend,” he wrote, noting he had repeatedly clarified that each individual should make their own choice. “In every sense, this was a personal decision, based on my own principles.”
Despite this, Redner said some members continued to interpret his stance as discouraging attendance or hoping the exhibition would fail, claims he strongly rejected.
“I do not wish ill on Boston 2026, the attendees or my American philatelic colleagues,” he wrote, adding he had originally planned to attend before making his decision. “I wish the exhibition the best and hope it will be successful.”
Redner explained that his decision not to attend stems from a broader moral objection to the current political climate in the United States, referencing lessons instilled by his father.
“My father taught me to protest the wrong, to resist the illegal and to speak out against injustice,” he wrote.
He also addressed criticism that philately and politics should remain separate, arguing that such a distinction is no longer realistic.
“To those of you who say philately and politics should not mix … I say to you, that today everything is political and to think otherwise is naive,” he stated.
While Redner noted that attending international exhibitions has never been a formal requirement of the presidency, he acknowledged that some members of the RPSC board were concerned about the optics of his absence from a major global event.
“As it is not my wish to harm the reputation of our national stamp club, I have made the decision to step down immediately,” he wrote.
Redner said his resignation would allow the board to appoint a new president who can attend and represent the RPSC in Boston, framing the move as one made in the best interests of Canadian philately.
“This is my decision, one made because I care deeply about Canadian philately and its reputation around the world,” he wrote. “However, I also care about my moral integrity, and I will not be pressured by anyone to abandon what I believe to be the correct response to gross injustice.”
Redner concluded his message by expressing peace with his decision and offering well wishes to those planning to attend the exhibition.
“I hope that those of you who are attending Boston 2026 will enjoy your time there,” he wrote.
2 Comments
I agree with Gregg’s decision not to attend Boston. I also was planning to attend before the disaster of Trump appeared on the scene. I will not cross the Border as long as the injustice and deceit are prominent in the US
I fully support Mr. Redner’s decision to not attend, although I don’t believe that staying away should have impacted his ability to lead the RPSC. Even though I had been looking forward to going almost from the day it was announced, I will also not be attending for pretty much the same reason. (An exchange rate that makes everything 40% more expensive is also a contributing factor, but not large enough of one to keep me away on its own.)