November 1, 2002
ROYAL MEMBERS TO RECEIVE ROYAL HONOUR

Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, C.C., C.M.M., C.D., Governor General of Canada, has announced that 10 members of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC) have been selected to receive the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal.

The honoured philatelists are Lola Caron, Andrew Chung, Wallace L. Gutzman, John I. Jamieson, Reverend Father Jean-Claude Lafleur, Cimon Morin, Kevin O'Reilly, Col. William G. Robinson, Elizabeth Sodero, and Charles J.G. Verge. Each has contributed greatly to stamp collecting over many years.

A commemorative medal for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee is part of the usual celebration of this momentous occasion. The medal will be awarded to Canadians who, over the past 50 years, have helped create the Canada of the present, including young Canadians who are actively contributing to our future.

The program is an opportunity to recognize citizens for outstanding and exemplary achievement or service to their community, organization, or to Canada as a whole. The Queen has indicated the awarding of the medal should be inclusive and wide-ranging. About 46,000 medals, which have been produced by the Royal Canadian Mint, will be distributed.

Col. Bill Robinson is a past president of the RPSC while Charles Verge is the current president, and Elizabeth Sodero is a director of the Royal. Father Lafleur, a past director, and Lola Caron have worked tirelessly for youth philately. Kevin O'Reilly, Wallace Gutzman, and Andrew Chung have made major contributions to the hobby through research and writing.

John Jamieson is considered the premier stamp dealer in Canada, but his knowledge and expertise on those little pieces of adhesive used to send items through the mail has been recognized internationally. Cimon Morin is Chief of the Canadian Postal Archives and the creator of the much-acclaimed three-volume bibliography on Canadian philately.

Harry Sutherland, Secretary to the RPSC, was extremely pleased to learn that several members have been selected for the Golden Jubilee Medal. He said, "these honours are well deserved because the recipients have worked many years and in diverse ways to promote our hobby."

Sutherland, who is one of Canada's most distinguished philatelists, pointed out "like all such awards, there are never enough to go around, but it is important that some Royal members are singled out in this way."

The Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee medals will be presented at selected venues, but specific dates and locales have not been announced. The organizers plan several ceremonies across Canada. The first medals were presented to an inaugural group from every province and territory at the Governor General's Garden Party in Ottawa June 29, 2002.

Information on The RPSC can be had by e-mail at info@rpsc.org or by visiting the Society's website at www.rpsc.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Michael O. Nowlan 506-357-2698
Carol S. Law 416-979-8874