PNWRG has successful meeting at VANPEX 2007

The PNWRG held a most successful regional meeting in conjunction with VANPEX 2007, 8-10 June. 20 members of BNAPS attended the PNWRG presentations on Saturday with many members exhibiting in this very nice National show. The philatelic portion of our meeting was open to all attending VANPEX and we had a number of people in and out during the day.

The VANPEX frames

Our meeting was held at the Richmond Curling Club, a terrific venue. The lighting was superb, there was lots of room between the frames, and all the booth holders were in one location.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the catering. The staff of the curling club did a superb job. We had a small breakfast and lunch bar where the chef did a great job making very good sandwiches at very reasonable prices. He also catered the Saturday evening banquet and I think everyone agrees that we got our money's worth.

Richmond Curling Club

This isn't bad grub!

Five one hour presentations were scheduled starting at 10:00 AM with John Burnett discussing his Small Queen exhibit. This was followed by Bill Topping talking on the subject of Ship Markings on the BC Coast. Tracy Cooper opened the afternoon session with a neat talk on "Gems of the Cariboo". Gray Scrimgeour then took us outside of BNAPS to discuss the "Worlds Columbian Exposition". Peter Jacobi finished an informative day with a talk on "Gold Mining in the Kootenays".

John Burnett discussing the Small Queens

Bill Topping with "Ship Markings on the BC Coast"

Pete Jacobi presenting "Gold Mining in the Kootenays"

Gray Scrimgeour (centre) and Louis Fiset at the seminars

The highlight of the show was PNWRG member Ian Mowat winning the VANPEX Grand award, Traditional Philately - Canada and BNA, the BC Binks Award, Revenue Award, Best BNA Exhibit, and of course a National Gold medal from VANPEX.

PNWRG members took many medals. Most notable was Jim Davidson winning two Vermeils and the Blair Henshaw Award for Other Display Class, the prestigious Bailey Award for Militaria Category, and AAPE gold pin. Jim couldn't make it to the awards banquet and so your editor accepted for him. I ended getting up shaking hands and smiling for a camera eleven times that evening! Gray Scrimgeour was there, and he picked up Vermeil for his exhibit "Some Postal History of the Numeral Issue Period".

Ian Mowat gets the Grand

Gray Scrimgeour gets another two

►  John Burnett, event reporter
►  Gray Scrimgeour, some of the photos