WTSC mails commemorative covers to members for 85th anniversary

Late last year, the West Toronto Stamp Club (WTSC) mailed commemorative covers marking its 85th anniversary to every member.

Posted on Dec. 15, each cover’s cachet – designed by long-time member Don Hedger – depicts the home of Samuel Burford, who lived at 782 Indian Rd., in Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood. On Feb. 20, 1935, a group of like-minded collectors first met to form a stamp club in Toronto’s west end.

“These commemorative items will hopefully cause you to look back over the years with pride and forward with anticipation,” wrote WTSC President Sid Mengisna in the January 2021 issue of the WTSC Bulletin, the club’s monthly newsletter.

“Even though our celebration was less than what it might have been, the success of this anniversary project – the outstanding cachet design, the cover and insert production and printing, the label making and mailing, as well as the excellent pin designs and pin production – underscores the pride, excellence and fine team work that exist at the WTSC.”

Ian Robertson (right) and Garfield Portch, both long-time WTSC members, hunt for covers at the National Postage Stamp & Coin Show in Mississauga.

ANNIVERSARY PIN INCOMING

An 85th anniversary pin will also be distributed among members once the club is cleared to return to face-to-face meetings.

“Considering our demographic and the expected continuance of restrictions, I anticipate that will occur no earlier than September 2021,” according to Mensigna.

Before the pandemic began last March, the WTSC regularly met at the Fairfield Seniors Centre at 80 Lothian Ave. in Etobicoke, just west of downtown Toronto; however, since then, the club has transitioned to online meetings. In recent months, the WTSC has also held a virtual single-page exhibition while continuing to co-ordinate its circuit book program and issue its monthly newsletter.

To read more about the club’s recent milestone, click here.