With the snip of the ribbon, Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, along with other dignitaries, officially opened today the 2014 RCNA Convention Show & Bourse.
Held at the Delta Meadowvale on Mississauga Road, the Show & Bourse is one of the most popular events of the six-day convention hosted this year by the North York Coin Club.
More than 50 dealers of coins, medals, banknotes, tokens and other items are on sale during the Show & Bourse, held today through to Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This year’s Show & Bourse is being presented by Gold Sponsor, Canadian Coin News.
“We are delighted people from across Canada and the United States are here today,” the long-time and popular mayor said during the opening ceremonies. “This show really gives you a picture of the value and collection of coins from across Canada and the U.S.”
Using the show the promote her city, she was quick to point out the features Mississauga offers compared to her neighbours from “the East” (Toronto), pointing out, though, “I’m not as famous as the mayor of Toronto,” which the crowded responded with loud laughter.
Marc Brule, interim president of the Royal Canadian Mint, also participated in the opening ceremonies.
“We are certainly very proud to be supporting the RCNA and the coin community,” he said.
As part of this year’s joint theme, Hands Cross The Border, between the RCNA and the American Numismatic Association (ANA), President Walter Ostromecki also participated in the ceremony and made a special, surprise presentation.
He presented an ANA Presidential Award to a surprised Dan Gosling for his work with the RCNA, as a former president and recently as editor of the association’s magazine, the Journal, published 10 times a year and distributed to the RCNA’s 1,200 members.
Dan Gosling was shocked and surprised to receive the ANA’s President’s Award during the opening ceremonies of the RCNA’s 2014 Convention. Photo by Mary-Anne Luzba.
“I truly appreciate what Dan has done in Canada and the U.S.,” Ostromeckie said as he presented the prestigious plaque to Gosling.
“I was so shocked and so honoured to receive this,” Gosling later told Canadian Coin News.
Organizers of this year’s convention said attendance far exceeded their expectations. They had originally had a target of booking 275 rooms for the convention and that number has been exceeded by more than 460 rooms.
For more details on the RCNA convention, go to: www.rcna.ca/2014
Be sure to follow this website for updates on the convention: www.canadiancoinnews.com