2018 ONA Convention opens today in Kitchener

The Ontario Numismatic Association (ONA) returns to Kitchener today for the first day of its annual three-day gathering.

Running until April 22, the 56th annual ONA Convention is being held at the Holiday Inn Conference Centre on 30 Fairway Rd. S., in Kitchener, Ont. Among the biggest changes for this year’s convention is the bourse hours. For the first time, the bourse and exhibit floor will be open to the public today from noon-6 p.m. In the past, the bourse was only open to convention registrants, dealers and exhibitors on Friday.

The bourse will also be open tomorrow from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Sunday, April 22 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Collectors and non-collectors alike are invited to buy, sell and trade an assortment of numismatic and related material from more than 35 dealers, who are also offering free appraisals. Daily admission is only $3 today and tomorrow while a two-day pass will be offered for $5. Admission is free on Sunday, and children aged 17 and under are always free.

“The landscape of the numismatic world today is changing dramatically as we see a shift from the analog world of coin club meetings and local coin auctions to a digital world of online convenience,” said ONA President Scott Douglas, who added the convention will “focus on the importance of the coin club by promoting them and recognizing the immense contribution coin clubs make to our hobby.”

“The ONA Convention for 2018 will showcase why the collector still needs to get out to coin club meetings and the educational aspect of numismatics presented by individuals who are both knowledgeable and willing to share their discoveries freely with the numismatic community.”

TODAY’S FESTIVITIES

  • 7 a.m.-9 a.m.: Dealers, exhibitors set-up in the Waterloo Salon A-B-C
  • 9 a.m.-6 p.m.: Registration table open for registration kits
  • 9 a.m.-noon: Bourse room open to dealers, exhibitors and delegates in the Waterloo Salon A-B-C
  • 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Hospitality suite open to all registrants, bourse dealers and families for complimentary coffee and soft drinks in Erie Room (second floor)
  • Noon-6 p.m.: Bourse floor open to public
  • 1 p.m.-4 p.m.: Educational symposium in Michigan Room
  • 7 p.m.-midnight: President’s Reception in Ontario Salons A-B

EDUCATIONAL SYMPOSIUM

Today from 1 p.m.-4 p.m., the ONA will host a three-part educational symposium featuring a trio of esteemed speakers.

“It is my hope that everyone will attend what is sure to be an informative look at our world of numismatics. From education we gain knowledge. With knowledge we gain wisdom,” said Douglas, who’s also the association’s educational chair as well as the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA).

The first speaker will be France Waychison, who will lead a presentation about wooden money in Timmins at 1 p.m. A native of Coaticook, Qué., Waychison has been actively collecting wooden money for more than a decade and is currently president of the Canadian Association of Wooden Money Collectors.

At 2 p.m., Bill Waychison will lead a presentation entitled “The Story of Three War-Related Medals from France.” Currently residing in Timmins, Ont., Waychison is past president of both the Canadian Numismatic Research Society (CNRS) and RCNA and has served as the RCNA club services chair and ONA awards chair. He’s a Fellow of the ONA, RCNA, and CNRS and is recipient of the ONA Award of Merit, the Bruce H. Raszmann Award as well as the ONA, RCNA, and American Numismatic Association Presidential Awards.

Lastly, at 3 p.m., Douglas will lead a presentation entitled “W. R. McColl – Traces of A Numismatic Past.” In addition to serving as president of the ONA, Douglas is also the immediate past president of the CNRS. He is a Fellow of the ONA, CNRS and the RCNA and received the ONA Award of Merit in 2010.

For more information about the 2018 ONA Convention, visit the-ona.ca/con2018.php.

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