BNAPS Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Regional GroupSome History | photo from 2003 | Meeting of May, 2006 | Whiteley's Much Traveled Cover | Brandon 125 anniversary
NOTE: Following a brief history of the Group, meeting notes are included, most recent showing at the top. HISTORY
The first Winnipeg Regional BNAPS was formed on November 22, 1953. Alex Stewart was appointed chairman with E.P. Warren as secretary. At the second meeting held December 7, 1953; Dr. Murray Campbell gave a talk on early Red River postal history, illustrated with an album of Red River covers, beautifully written up by member Tom Miller.
Future talks given by K. Bileski, S. Kanee and I. Pitblado were highlights; these are remembered vividly by some members. H.W.S. Wilding was appointed secretary in 1955. In the late 1950's the group became less active and folded.
On May 3, 1984 a meeting was held at the Marlborough Inn to revive the Regional BNAPS Group for Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. The members in attendance expressed an interest in several further meetings as an experiment. To date the Regional Group has been most successful with an average attendance of fourteen members and guests. The group meets five times a year, four of them held at St. Peters Anglican Church and one meeting held in conjunction with the Stamp Show of the Winnipeg Philatelic Society.
Our first regular meeting of June 23, 1984; we were treated to two excellent presentations. Bill Pawluk discussed the evolution of the postal system of Canaaa from 1896 - 1910 using slides of material from his collection. He highlighted such events as the Introduction of Rapid Cancelling Machines, the Introduction of Imperial "Penny Postage", and the issuing of Booklets and Postage Due Stamps.
Derek Smith then presented an anecdotal treatment of the history behind the preparation of the New Brunswick decimal currency issue of 186O. Particular mention was made of the role of the postmaster general, Charles Connell, and the story of the 5 cents stamps prepared bearing his likeness. Slides were used to good effect to show details of the stamps.
Two slide presentations on widely different areas of BNA philately were presented at our Regional meeting on November 3, 1985. The first talk, by Robert Lemire, covered details of the Canadian prestamped cards issued in the period 1967 to 1974. The second, by Don Fraser, showed examples of the various square circle cancels used in Manitoba. As our co-organizers gave the talks, we can hardly comment on their merit. However, we did not see too many slumberers in the audience.
On February 16, 1985 the Regional Group was treated to an absolutely spectacular pair of talks on the Large Queens Issue of Canada. The first, by Harry Duckworth (Sr.), described the basic features of the issue, the rates for which they were printed with emphasis on rates to North American destinations, the plates and the papers. Harry Duckworth (Jr.) then followed with slides showing Large Queens Issue Covers mailed to overseas destinations. These were followed by slides showing unusual cancellations. At the meeting on May 11, 1985 in conjunction with the Winnipeg Philatelic Society, Robin Harris presented a seminar entitiled "Canada, 1977 - 1985 - Environment Definitives". Slides were used to good effect to show details of the stamps.
The highlight of the meeting on November 3, 1986 was a talk given by Don Amos on "The Canadian Pioneer and Semi-Official Air Mail Issues of Canada". Don then answered many questions about these often neglected issues and showed some lovely material from his extensive collection.
The meeting on May 11th, (held in conjunction with the Winnipeg Philatelic Society 1986 Stamp Show); we were fortunate in having as quest speaker, Art Leggett of Toronto. Art presented a talk about the structure and workings of the Vincent Graves Greene philatelic research foundation, and had many interesting comments on the expertising of BNA material.
At the meeting on November 1st, we were treated to Dave Whiteley's excellent presentation on Trans-Atlantic covers. The various items he brought along generated comments and discussions about rates, markings and routings into the last half of the nineteeth century.
The meeting of February 21, 1987; Beverlie Clark presented a seminar on "The Postal history of the 1998 Map Stamp of Canada". She discussed the background of this interesting issue, and showed a fascinating selection of covers that demonstrated the use of the map stamp to meet many different rates.
Several meetings have followed the successful format of where members were encouraged to bring along a few pages of their favorite BNA collections. The purpose of this type of meeting was to give everyone a chance to show portions or their collections without having to go to the trouble of preparing slides.
Respectively submitted,
Robert Lemire and Don Fraser
May 7, 2006
On Sunday May 7th 2006 the Manitoba Regional Group held a meeting of its members in conjunction with the Winnipeg Philatelic Society's annual show and bourse. Some twelve members and guests were in attendance. Front Row: Left to Right Don Fraser, Harry Duckworth Snr. Len Kruczwski, David Whiteley
Middle Left to Right: Dereck Smith, Dick Johnson, John Salmi
Back Row: Bob Lane, Nick Andrusiak, Peter Helstom, David B. Dawes.
The Guest speaker Bob Lane of St. Albert, Alberta was introduced by our president, Don Fraser. Bob gave a short talk on the BNAPS web site, and then gave us a presentation on early Manitoba RPOs., illustrated with examples from his own collection. His presentation generated a lively discussion on various aspects of routes and mail handling over these routes.
At the conclusion of Bob's presentation members were invited to display and talk about items they had brought. David Whiteley showed a much traveled cover from Winnipeg that had spent some four months traveling back and forth across Manitoba before being returned undeliverable; Dick Johnson displayed some of his "Jusqu'e covers with an explanation of the protocol; and Dr. Duckworth Senior displayed a 15c Large Queen rare "Studds Cobalt blue" shade.
Members and Guests in attendance were: David Whiteley, John Salmi, Dick, Johnson, Derek Smith, Nick Andrusiak, Leonard Kruczwski, David B. Dawes, Bob Lane, Olie and Peter Hellston, and Don Fraser.
November 19th 2005 On November 19th 2005 the Manitoba Regional Group met to celebrate Dr. Henry E. Duckworth's 90th birthday. Dr Duckworth needs no introduction.
His birthday was celebrated with cake and coffee and was accompied by a short show and tell session.
Back Row L to R: Charlie Fred, Rick Penko, Fred Ostapchuk, Len Kruczwski, Forbes Sharpe, Harry W. Duckworth, David Whiteley, David Keddie, Bob Stanley. 
Front Row L..to R. : Dick Johnson, Beverley Barr, Harry W. Duckworth, Don Fraser, Robin Harris.
May 2003: BNAPS Manitoba-Northwestern Ontario Regional Group
From left to right: Axel Olsson, Bob Elias, Don Fraser, Rick Penko*, Leonard Kruczynski (Centennial Study Group Editor), Gordon Turnbull*, Bob Stanley (incoming WPS President), Robin Harris* (Elizabethan II Study Group Editor), Dr. Duckworth (Sr.), Bob Lane (BNAPS Webmaster)
* indicates Past President of the WPS
