August 2004
2004 PRESIDENT'S MEDAL GOES TO MICHAEL MADESKER

In 2000, The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada President Charles J.G. Verge instituted the President’s Medal to honour individual’s or organizations for their contribution to the hobby.

Verge "didn’t think it would be awarded annually, but the vibrancy of our hobby has allowed me to make it an annul presentation." The 2004 medal goes to Michael Madesker, RDP, FRPSC, one of Canada’s most respected collectors and philatelic organizers.

Madesker, who is President of the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie’s Commission for Youth Philately until next September, was president of The RPSC from 1990-1993. He is the first and only Canadian president of a FIP Commission, a position he has held since 1992.

During his term as president, the society’s journal took on its bilingual title: The Canadian Philatelist/Le philatéliste canadien. Madesker’s contributions to philately both at home and on the international scene are numerous. An international judge, and eloquent spokesperson, and an exhibitor, Verge says “he has represented Canada and The RPSC with distinction.”

Michael Madesker joins Kasimir Bileski, (2000) Denis Masse (2001) and Ron Brigham (2002) as recipients of the president’s medal. The 2003 winner was the Canadian Postal Archives.

Kasimir Bileski of Winnipeg was honoured in 2000 for his successful completion of 80 consecutive years as a stamp dealer. Bileski is a legend among the dealers and a household name among the collecting public. There are few veteran collectors in Canada who did not start their collection with a package from Kasimir Bileski.

Denis Masse was the world’s longest-serving philatelic columnist having spent 40 years as stamp columnist at Montreal’s La Presse, one of Canada’s most important daily newspapers. Through the years, he wrote more than 2,000 weekly columns. In 2001, Verge called him a “foremost leader in the philatelic community, addressing his stamp knowledge and theory to, not only collectors, but also the general public.” Masse died in 2002.

Ron Brigham, whose exhibits of classic early Canadian material have earned rave reviews, was the first Canadian to become World Stamp Champion meriting the Grand Prix d’Honneur in 2002. Brigham's material is often presented in the Court of Honour at Royal conventions and around the world.

In 2003, the President’s Medal went to the Canadian Postal Archives, which won the first World Official Website Competition in 2002. A competition sponsored by the FIP, it cited the Canadian Postal Archives < www.archives.ca > as Best Web Site Official Class. Verge says "the RPSC is proud of this singular accomplishment," which "sets an example for excellence others will want to emulate." The Canadian Postal Archives site is a first class effort that allows viewers to have access to all stamps of Canada and the Provinces. There are also search engines that are linked to the Philatelic Library’s catalogue database, to a database relating to post offices, and to a database on Canadian stamps.

Looking at the award winners, Verge said, "so many Canadians and Canadian institutions have made outstanding contributions to ensure that the word is spread about Canadian philately that such an award is warranted." He is "pleased there are such stalwarts among the hobby here."

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