TCP-M/J 04 - The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada

ROYAL *2004* ROYALE Halifax
By Michael Nowlan
ROYAL *2004* ROYALE Halifax, May 28-30, will
be held at the Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites, a lovely
old hotel recently refurbished, and situated at the
corner of South Park Street and Spring Garden
Road. This is a busy shopping area with many fine
restaurants. It is across the street from the Public
Gardens, the premier Victorian gardens in North
America. Although the Gardens suffered much
damage in last September’s hurricane, Juan, local
efforts have raised considerable money for their
restoration, and by spring the ducks and swans
should be delighting in their surroundings once
again.
On Friday night the President’s Reception will be
held at the Cambridge Military Library, about three
blocks from the hotel. The Library was established
in 1817 as a garrison library by Lord Dalhousie and
was moved to its present site in 1886. One of the
valuable collections housed in the Library was
transferred from Corfu after the British evacuation
in 1864. On Saturday night the Great Hall of the
Dalhousie University Club will be the venue for a
reception, dinner and awards presentations. It is of
interest that Henry Hicks, a distinguished Nova
Scotian philatelist was president of Dalhousie
University from 1963 to 1980.
Over 30 dealers are expected with a full range of
material. Nationally acclaimed photographer
Sherman Hines, designer of Wildlife Conservation
Stamps, will be on hand with ‘something special’ as
well as a launch of four provincial wildlife
conservation stamps, including Nova Scotia and
Ontario. Local material will be featured in the
Court of Honour, five exhibits from New Zealand
promises variety and appeal, and exhibits from
across Canada and the United States will round out
the exhibition halls.
Seminars on Designing the Cunard/Allan Line
stamps, which will be launched during the
Convention, Paper Conservation, Using the
Canadian Archives and Constructing an Exhibit,
Fun Way to Collect GB, and Disinfected Mail will
complement the bourse and exhibits. The year 2004
marks the 250th Anniversary of the first Post Office
in Halifax and Canada, albeit an unofficial one. The
local committee plans to issue a cover marking this
anniversary.
Youth will not be forgotten! A long gallery that
will be called ‘The Back Alley’ has been assigned to
non-structured youth activities. Nova Scotia Stamp
Club members and friends have been generous in
donating stamps and related materials for the
children. Activity sheets and helpful collectors will
assist children in their collecting efforts.
Halifax, the home of such disparate persons as
Samuel Cunard and Henry Hechler; playground
for the Duke of Kent (Queen Victoria’s father) and
Madame St. Laurent; touched by the work of Sir
Sandford Fleming; survivor of the 1917 Explosion;
burying ground to those lost on the Titanic; a
military stronghold haunted by Adele Hugo; a city
of universities one of which was founded by Anna
Leonowens; and currently a vibrant modern city,
with a vital harbour, an international flavour and a
philatelic community enthusiastically readying to
host its first national show since 1965.
76 th Annual Meeting and Convention
Hosted by the Nova Scotia Stamp Club
National Philatelic Exhibition
Lord Nelson Hotel, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
28-30 May 2004
Website: www.nsstampclub.ca
ROYAL*2004*ROYALE, Box 2004,
10-118 Wyse Road, Dartmouth, NS, B3A 1N7
Information: (902) 832-1662, FAX (902) 832-3294
Maj - June / Mai - Juin 2004 139