Our Team
Stéphane Cloutier
FRPSC, FPHSC, and Auction Manager
Stephane started collecting at age of 8, and attended CAPEX 78 at age 11. Was most impressed with the Swedish Post Office booth, which gave stamp-engraving workshops. In 1998 discovered Canadian postal history and has collected various aspects of it since then, including the postmarks of Hamilton Ontario, Canadian duplex cancellations and more.
In 2008 started seriously collecting and studying the definitive stamps of France (1849 to 2015) and is now passionate about collecting and studying the postal history and postmarks of Paris France, 1700 to 1900, as well as the 1876 to 1900 period Peace and Commerce issue (stamps, postmarks, postal history).
Has exhibited the following, at the National level:
- Numeral Duplex Postmarks of Ontario (3 frames, national vermeil in 2004, first time exhibit which also won the AAPE Novice Award)
- Bickerdike Machine Postmarks of Hamilton, Ontario (single-frame national gold in 2015)
- The Postmarks of Hamilton, Ontario, 1828 to 1897 (10-frame national gold in 2014 and national large gold in 2017)
- Catalogue of Canadian Duplex Cancellations, Third Edition (2005 philatelic literature exhibition, national vermeil award)
- In 2005 produced, edited and published the Catalogue of Canadian Duplex Cancellations, Third Edition, 230 pages. This has since been constantly kept up to date online on the website of the Postal History Society of Canada.
- Has published more than 26 philatelic articles in PHSC Journal, BNA Topics and Bulletin de la Société d’histoire postale du Québec.
- Since 2020 has been a part time contributor to the Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation expertising committee.
- Was Secretary-Treasurer of the Postal History Society of Canada from 2005 to 2010.
- Was President of the Postal History Society of Canada from 2010 to 2018, and now sits on its Board of Directors.
- Was ORAPEX Bourse Manager from 2006 to 2013, then became Co-Chair of the show for two years (2014 and 2015) and since then sits on the organizing committee as general consultant.
- Started his judging apprenticeship at the Lakeshore Stamp Show in 2008 and became an RPSC accredited National-Level judge in 2009. Has been on the jury of nearly 30 local and national philatelic exhibitions since.
- Became a Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada in 2016, and a Fellow of the Postal History Society of Canada in 2019.
- Has worked almost full-time at Sparks Auctions (Ottawa) as their senior lotter and describer since 2008, then became full time Auction Manager from 2017 to 2024.
Firmin Wyndels
Partner
Firmin is a collector and philatelic dealer, based in Victoria BC where he lives with his wife Rachel and 4 children. He is the owner of Weeda Stamps Ltd and attends stamp shows across Canada (primarily Western Canada).
A collector since the age of 5, Firmin’s philatelic roots came from his grandfather who gifted him the worldwide “Citation” album to start filling with colorful stamps from around the globe.
Since those early “Citation” album days, Firmin has had a passion for philately, eventually evolving to collecting postal history, particularly the postmarks and postal history of Manitoba.
Firmin is an avid supporter of organized philately in Western Canada, supporting the shows hosted by the Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton stamp clubs. Locally, Firmin is the auctioneer for the Victoria Stamp Club, as well as being the past-president of the Greater Victoria Philatelic Society.
Steve Johnson
Senior Describer
Steve started collecting as a young child through cub scouts, and from the aid of his stamp collecting dad and uncle. Re-discovering the hobby in the early 2000’s, when he started collecting Canadian Semi-Official Airmail stamps, with particular interest in Yukon Airways and Exploration Company Limited.
Graduating from collector to exhibitor, Steve has earned National level gold medals, along with FIP level vermeil and gold medals, with a highlight being an FIP large gold medal for his Yukon Airways traditional exhibit.
Since 2019 Steve is an RPSC accredited National level judge, with a personal highlight being a member of the jury for the FIP CAPEX 2022 show.
Other philatelic highlights include:
- President of the Canadian Aerophilatelic Society
- Co-chair of CANPEX, National level show in London, Ontario
- Former director of the RPSC (2020-2024)
- Co-editor of Section 3 (Semi-Official Airmails) of The Air Mails of Canada and Newfoundland, second edition
- Former president of the Middlesex Stamp Club (3 separate occasions)
- Member of the Canadian Aerophilatelic Society, The Philatelic Specialists Society of Canada, Royal Philatelic Society of Canada, The Perfin Society, and West Indies Philatelic Study Group.
- Current interests include Switzerland Airmails, Canadian Postal Stationery, the Postmarks of Churston Ferrers, and improving his current exhibits: The ABC Murders, and the Enchanted Owl First Day Covers.
Rachel McMenamie
Auction Coordinator
A lifetime “islander”, Rachel was born and raised on Vancouver Island. After obtaining an Administrative Diploma in 2006, Rachel started to work in the field immediately and quickly realized her knack for organization and passion for helping others.
Admittedly not a serious collector, Rachel appreciates picture postcards and postal history relating back to her family’s roots in Scotland.
Rachel lives with her husband Firmin, four kids and Mini Australian Shepherd, “Meatball”.
Contact Us
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