Tony Shaman, who served as editor of The Canadian Philatelist for 17 years and helped shape it into one of Canada’s leading philatelic publications, passed away in Calgary on June 25.
In addition to his work with TCP, Tony was a long-time columnist with Canadian Stamp News, Canada’s bi-weekly magazine focused on all things philately. His writing offered collectors thoughtful reflections, timely commentary, and encouragement to share their own stories from within the pages of their albums.
A respected writer, collector, and volunteer, Tony guided the journal of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC) from 1999 to 2016, bringing a steady editorial hand, a deep appreciation for philately, and a quiet passion for encouraging fellow collectors to share their stories. His work earned him widespread respect across the hobby and the honour of being named a Fellow of the RPSC.
He announced his retirement during the RPSC’s 88th convention, held in his hometown of Kitchener–Waterloo, Ont., in August 2016. At the same event, he was recognized with the RPSC President’s Award in appreciation of his many years of service.
“Tony is that rare person who not only willingly collaborates for the good of the cause, but prefers to work that way,” said then RPSC president George Pepall. “Whether it’s an imminent deadline, a technical point on the hyphen or the comma, or an obstreperous would-be writer, Tony remains composed and good-humoured. Sometimes his editor’s role must seem thankless, but let that no longer be true.”
Tony’s journey with TCP began in 2000 when the Kitchener–Waterloo Philatelic Society – of which he was an active member – was celebrating its 65th anniversary. “[Then-RPSC President] Charles Verge tapped me on the shoulder and asked me to edit the thing,” Tony recalled. “I was writing articles for Canadian Stamp News at the time, but I was getting tired and didn’t really have a lot of new ideas, so I thought if I started editing the magazine it would save me from having to come up with new ideas every two weeks for a column.”
He officially assumed the editor’s role with the November/December 1999 issue and published his first editorial in the May/June 2001 edition. In that inaugural editorial, Tony expressed his excitement about taking on a role so closely aligned with his interests: “Assuming a new responsibility is always an exciting occasion particularly when the task is close to one’s heart. Becoming the editor of The Canadian Philatelist is such an event and I look forward to the challenge.”
Throughout his tenure, Tony championed the importance of member participation and peer-to-peer learning, urging collectors to share their knowledge with others. “Every one of you is a stamp collector with a committed interest in some aspect of philately. Otherwise, you would not be reading this editorial,” he wrote. “And that means that you have a story or, quite likely, several stories to tell.”
That spirit of camaraderie and contribution remained central to his message right through to his final issue. Upon his retirement, effective Dec. 31, 2016, Tony reiterated that same advice: “If we are to maintain the wide variety of topics included in this issue, I can only repeat my earlier plea: please think about that story that is tucked away between your album pages and write it up. Your fellow collectors will thank you for it.”
Tony belonged to the Kitchener–Waterloo Philatelic Society for decades. Pepall recalled first meeting him after moving to the area in 1968 and forming a lasting friendship rooted in shared philatelic interests. Tony and his wife, Rose, relocated to Calgary a few years ago to be closer to family. “They were really loved here,” said Pepall.
Tony’s legacy is felt not only through the hundreds of articles and editorials he produced, but also in the encouragement he gave to contributors and readers, the patience he showed as an editor, and the enduring strength of the journal he helped shape. His warmth, professionalism, and quiet dedication to the hobby will be fondly remembered by all who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him.
More details will be provided as they become available.