Christopher Faulkner was honoured with the J. Douglas Ferguson Award for distinguished service to Canadian numismatics, the highest honour in Canadian numismatics, at the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association annual convention, held July 24-28, in Winnipeg, Man. Faulkner has been active in Canadian numismatics for decades. His first published work on the subject was an article in the Canadian Numismatic Journal in 1961.
In 1963 he was a founding fellow of the Canadian Numismatic Research Society (CNRS), and he has published a large number of articles and books since then. In addition, Faulkner has served on the executives of the CNRS and the J. Douglas Ferguson Historical Research Foundation. Although the highest distinction in Canadian numismatics, and traditionally presented as the highlight of the RCNA’s annual awards banquet, the award is selected by an independent Board of Award. The highest award of the RCNA is the Paul Fiocca Award, named in honour of the former Canadian Coin News publisher.
That award, for distinguished service to the RCNA, was presented to Norm Williams, a past-president of the association, who has continued to serve in other capacities. The banquet also saw the presentation of RCNA fellowships to Serge Pelletier and James Williston. Other awards included the Jerome H. Remick Literary Award to David Bergeron; the Louise Graham Club of the Year Award to the Windsor Coin Club; the Jim Charlton Jr. Award for best juvenile exhibit to Daniel Anderson; the senior best in show to George Cuhaj; and the Jean Bullen Award for best Canadian decimal display, to Christopher Boyer.
At the end of the banquet, outgoing president William Waychison turned the helm over to Bret Evans, CCN’s managing editor. While it is the culmination of the RCNA convention, the five-day event started the previous Wednesday, with a daylong educational forum, welcome reception, RCNA executive meeting, and the start of the three-session auction by the Canadian Numismatic Company. Thursday saw the first day of a three-day bourse, the Royal Canadian Mint reception, and meetings by the Canadian Paper Money Society executive. Friday was a busy day, with tours for spouses and family, a delegates’ breakfast meeting, and meetings of the J. Douglas Ferguson Foundation executive, Canadian Paper Money Society, Canadian Errors and Varieties Numismatic Association, and Newfoundland Numismatics Enthusiasts. That evening, many of those attending took in dinner at Fort Gibraltar.
VIP tours of the Royal Canadian Mint’s facility in Winnipeg were held on Thursday and Friday. Saturday saw the RCNA annual general meeting, and meetings by the Canadian Numismatic Research Society, Canadian Association of Token Collectors, Canadian Tire Coupon Collectors, Society of Bearded Numismatists, and a Coin Kids forum and junior auction. Sunday was a day for goodbyes and plans for next year, as well as a meeting by the RCNA incoming executive, and the Canadian Association for Numismatic Education.