The 16th Ottawa Fall Stamp Fair returned to Canada’s capital region on Oct. 2-3 after more than a year of pandemic cancellations.
“Attendance was very strong, especially on Saturday,” said Roy Houtby, the show’s long-time organizer and owner of St. Catharines, Ont.’s Roy’s Stamps.
To give collectors, dealers and show organizers a sense of the “new normal,” Houtby said: “We had to check our counts a few times to make sure we were compliant with the total allowed in the show room at one time. All visitors had to show proof of double vaccination, be masked for their entire visit and register for contact tracing. Chairs at the dealer tables were limited and spaced to allow for social distancing.”
From his perspective as an organizer, Houtby added there was “lots of extra work dealing with all the protocols – but very worthwhile to see everyone pleased with the final results.”
The small, five-dealer bourse packed a big punch, with some of the country’s top dealers coming in from southern Ontario and Québec.
“All in all, there was a very positive vibe, and collectors seemed truly pleased that there was an in-person show.”