Fellows of The RPSC

August 2004
RPSC NAMES FIVE NEW 'ROYAL' FELLOWS

At the 2004 annual meeting of The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada held in Halifax May 28-30, President Charles J.G. Verge announced the installation of five new Fellows of the Society.

To qualify for Fellow status, candidates must meet at least one of the following criteria: they have actively worked for the betterment of the RPSC; they have promoted Canadian philately extensively through writing; and/or have, through a number of activities, made Canadian philately better at the international level.

The five new Fellows are Andrew Chung, John S. Keenlyside, Graham McCleave, Jacques Nolet, and John M. (Jack) Wallace. Each has made a significant contribution to the promotion of stamp collecting in Canada.

Andrew Chung has been an indefatigable supporter of The RPSC for more than 25 years. He has been a strong advocate for stamp collecting activities in Toronto, Niagara, and Grand Valley. As a writer/researcher his contributions have been immense. His first book, Canadian Postage Due Stamps, was published in 1985. Since then, his pen/keyboard has been prolific with articles and other books, the latest of which is the Second Edition of Canada Post Official First Day Covers, co-authored with Hank Narbonne and published in 2002. Over his career with Canada Post, he has ensured that his fellow employees are versed in philately and philatelists by conducting seminars and being available to answer questions.

John S. Keenlyside has been active for many years in local and regional philately in his native British Columbia. He has served as a director of The RPSC, chairman of the national finance committee, and is now treasurer of the Society. His other contributions include the development of social philately in Canada on which he has lectured extensively across the country. He is a national level judge with extensive experience in Canada and the United States.

From Fredericton, New Brunswick comes Graham McCleave who has been a director of The RPSC since 1994 and a director of BNAPS 2002-2006. As a Royal director he co-ordinates the conventions program, a position he has held since 1997. In that capacity he has managed to set a schedule for Royal conventions well into the future, and he recently completed an update of The RPSC Convention Guidelines. He has also been responsible for generating national interest in shows in Atlantic Canada.

Jacques Nolet has one of the most extensive lists of publication credits of any member of The RPSC. His contributions, mostly in the French language, have been extremely significant. A native of Trois Rivières, he has promoted philately throughout Quebec, not only through his writing, but also through participation in philatelic events. He has lent his expertise to numerous organizations and societies. As vice-president of CANADA ‘92, he was responsible for the preparation of the event’s publications.

Another native of British Columbia, John M. (Jack) Wallace has also given strong support to local and regional philately in his native province. For some years, he served as a director of The RPSC, and he is a Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London. His work with BNAPS has earned him membership in that group’s Order of the Beaver. His excellent biography of Gerry Wellburn illustrates many of the rarities of the Wellburn collection. Having judged locally, regionally, and nationally, he is now a National Judge Emeritus.

Verge "commended" the Fellows for the selecting such outstanding new Fellows. He said "their overall contributions to philately in Canada have helped give stamp collecting the high visibility it enjoys today."

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, or by calling 416-979-8874, toll free 1-888-285-4143.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Michael O. Nowlan 506-357-2698
Andrea Quinn 416-979-8874