This year’s fall equinox is next Thursday, Sept. 22, but as summer winds down, things are heating up for philatelists across the country.
It’s a busy week for Canadian stamp clubs to say the least. The shows begin Sept. 16 with Novapex 2016 at the Dartmouth Sportplex on 110 Wyse Rd., in Dartmouth, N.S. This national exhibition and bourse is hosted by the Nova Scotia Stamp and features more than 150 frames of competitive national-level exhibits; a dealers bourse; youth table; door prizes; show cancels, cachets, and picture postage; and more.
Importantly, admission and parking. are free. The bourse is open 1 p.m.-8 p.m. on Sept. 16; 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sept. 17; and 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sept. 18.
ONTARIO
The following day, in Burlington, Ont., is the monthly Burloak Stamp Fair. Open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Burlington Senior Centre on 2285 New St., the monthly show has been held regularly for the past 19 years. It boasts upwards of nine dealers as well as active buyers.
Also on Sept. 17 – and just down the road from Burlington – is the Best Western Stamp Show, being held in the Niagara Room of St. Catharines’ Best Western Hotel. The show is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and features free parking, admission and appraisals. The show is sponsored by local dealer Roy Houtby, owner of Roy’s Stamps, which specializes in stamps and covers of Canada and the British Commonwealth.
WESTERN CANADA
A bit further west, in Medicine Hat, Alta., is the Medicine Hat Stamp and Coin Club’s eight annual fall show, being held at Higdon Hall on 2055 21 Ave. S.E. The show is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and includes more than 35 tables of stamps and coins from dealers across Alberta and Saskatchewan. Admission is $2 (children are free with adults), and there are door prizes and free parking.
Lastly, this Sept. 17-18 is the North Shore Numismatic Society Coin, Stamp and Collectibles Show hosted by Vancouver’s North Shore Numismatic Society at Nikkei Centre on 6688 Southoaks Cres., Burnaby, B.C. The bourse runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sept. 17 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on the following day. In addition to stamps and coins, the bourse will have boxes full of postcards; banknotes; tokens; medals; art; pins; and more. Daily admission is $2 or $3 for both days (children are free if accompanied by an adult), and parking is free.