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Vanpex 2007 |
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Stamp collectors in Greater Vancouver are privileged to belong to the British Columbia Philatelic Society, best known in the philatelic community as the "BC Phil." The purpose of the society is as relevant today as it was in 1919: "To educate and publicize the hobby of philately to as wide an audience as possible, to recruit new members, and to form bonds with collectors and clubs throughout North America and abroad." The society is an affiliate of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada and the American Philatelic Society, and is a member of the Northwest Federation of Stamp Clubs. It meets Wednesday evenings, from September through June, at 7:30 p.m. at West Burnaby United Church, 6050 Sussex Avenue, Burnaby, BC. We also have a summer auction in July. The society's programs include a wide array of activities - guest speakers, various "show-and-tell" activities, monthly auctions, a popular stamp-grab treasure hunt, and social night swap & shop sessions. Once monthly, the society receives circuit books from the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada. |
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The society's web site, at www.bcphilatelic.org, provides regularly updated information about club activities; they publish a club newsletter three times annually.
Philatelic exhibitions have served as a keystone of the BC Philatelic Society's activities since the "First International Exhibition" was held in 1925. Since then, the Society has managed to put on a show for most of those years, and in fact for the last 39 years collectors and exhibitors have been able to enjoy a show every year, without a break. The exhibition and bourse of this year's Vanpex are smaller than in recent years: this is a trend that has been evident in other shows in Canada and the United States. Our theme this year - "Nationhood to Nationality: 1867-1947-2007" - celebrates the passage of the 1867 British North America Act, through the 1947 Citizenship Act, to the multicultural Canada of 2007. |
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| Using our theme as his creative springboard, BC Philatelic Society member Derren Carman has produced two commemorative show covers for VANPEX; each is available in different varieties. Both covers feature reproductions of the 1947 Canadian Citizenship Issue, and one cover includes portraits of famous Asian-Canadians, including politician Ujjal Dosanjh, former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, environment advocate David Suzuki, educator Ratna Ghosh, novelists Joy Kogawa and Rohinton Mistry, and politician and academic Tom Shoyama. | ||
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| The covers, available at the BC Phil table, include ones that can be serviced with a special Vanpex cancellation at the Canada Post booth.
This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923, often called the "Chinese Exclusion Act"). The Chinese Immigration Act of 1923 effectively barred not only Chinese, but all visible minorities of Asian origin from emigrating to Canada. The repeal of this act in 1947, and the concurrent passage of the Citizenship Act, was the catalyst which turned Canada into the multicultural nation that it is today. It also removed the infamous "head tax" that Chinese immigrants had to pay to enter Canada, and which placed severe economic burdens on families. And it paved the way for immigration to Canada of other Asians, including Japanese and Indian citizens. |
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| Vanpex 2007 presents 44 exhibits in 163 frames. The exhibitors represent 5 Canadian Provinces, 3 U. S. states, India and the Republic of China.
Frames 14-18, entitled "Canada Celebrates the Scouts and Guides" showed a commemorative from a kinder, gentler time when they could promote the "First International Boy Scout Olympics." That would certainly not be allowed today. |
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| In keeping with the Olympic theme and giving collectors a preview of what to expect as we get closer to 2010, frames 95-97 were entitled "Winter Olympic Games" and featured some unexpected commemoratives for the '88 Calgary Games by Paraguay and the Republic of Niger. | ||
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| Vanpex 2007 runs from June 8 to 10 in the Richmond Curling Club. Saturday's visitors are invited to attend free seminars on the club's mezzanine, "Canada Small Queens," "BC Coastal Ship Markings," "Gems of the Cariboo," "World's Columbian Exposition - Chicago 1893" and "The Cominco Story." After closing on Saturday, the Awards Banquet will be held on the mezzanine.
Sunday's events include more seminars and an Exhibition Walkabout. Unfortunately, sufficient manpower was not forthcoming to be able to plan for a Vanpex in 2008, but the hope is for a return in 2009. |
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Newsletter #104 |
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