This month's Canadian Forum is a well written show report for the 5th Annual WCIC show that was held in Medicine Hat Alberta. Many thanks to Lena Braman for the effort.                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                         

The 5th Annual Show and Sale of the Western Canadian Insulator Collectors went off without a hitch on July 16 & 17th. We met for the second year in a row at Medicine Hat. It wasn't quite as painfully hot as last year. In fact, it was fabulous weather. We didn't even have to worry about rattlesnakes!

After all the rain, flooding, dry spells and other weather extremes that have been prevalent in western Canada this year, our event was a great success. Thanks to the hard work of Dave Spencer and Daryl Heron, we ended up in the Reception Room of the Medalta Potteries Administration Building. For those that don't know, Medalta was a long-running clay works company that played a large part in Medicine Hat's history. This is where the National Porcelain and Medalta Insulators were made.

Medalta Pottery Products 
Dave's table on insulators made at the Hat, 
plus some of the other porcelain products. Love that lamp!

The site is now part of the Medicine Hat Clay Industries National Historic District. The factories are being painstakingly restored, with tours for the public to show the process and products of the factory. There is much more to be done but what's available is impressive indeed! Those marvelous huge kilns!!! Our delightful guide had a number of interesting stories to tell. We could only imagine what it must have been like back then, working in extremely hot and dangerous conditions. From one viewpoint, you could see where the clay was dug out of the valley walls.

One of the large kilns used to fire clay 
products at the old Medalta Potteries plant site.

So I digress once again ... how about the WCIC meet? We were very comfortably set up in a large, bright and fresh room, with lots of space. Tables were provided for us. Besides our group, there were walk-ins from the general public that had come to see the clay factories. We also met some insulator collectors who traveled to Medicine Hat specifically for our meet. We had a good time amongst ourselves, trading, swapping, buying, selling, learning, teaching, drooling and/or succumbing to temptation. Rod Bushfield was there from Calgary. He has a wicked eye for colour and is a fountain of information. Mel and Fern Bradford made the trek from Moosejaw. They are delightful to visit with. Rob Parker showed up from High River with some great porcelain. He made a couple of children very happy with some freebies.

Daryl examining Rod Bushfield's display. 
I got my first and incredibly lovely chartreuse 102 from Rod.
Add to that my delft blue Dominion-9. Wow!

Newcomers to the WCIC, Shelly and Jack Harynuk came all the way from Vancouver Island. Remember the drool? That's where I succumbed and got the green Withycombe. Dave Spencer, Daryl Heron and Ken Morrow had other items on display as well. Dave has a fine collection of insulators made at Medicine Hat, by Indepor (1975-present), Medalta (1915-1950) and National Porcelain (1947-1974).

Daryl Heron and his table of real "neat" Dominion
 and Dominion Glass products.

Ken has some great Greyhound buses (small ones, not the big ones) and railroad memorabilia. Daryl had a terrific display of Beverage Convention bottles, and some strange glass products like the bubble things and swans, made by Dominion and Dominion Glass. Saturday evening was spent at Daryl's home, enjoying his and his wife's hospitality while we chatted and contemplated his great and well-displayed collection. Hmmm, bottles, arrowheads, insulators, .... There were lots to enjoy.

The weird "bubble" things.

We held a brief meeting surrounded by Daryl's displays. We discussed whether we should keep the same location for next year. It was a terrific spot, lots of space, easily accessible, and filled with history. We discussed inviting a few other groups or clubs to join us, like Altaglass Club, bottle clubs, Hycroft Club, possibly a railroad group, in order to increase the awareness and traffic. Other sites were discussed such as the Pioneer Acres near Irricana, the Medicine Hat Farmer's Market or the Stampede etc. So far, this location was the best. Also, we might make the show a one day event rather than two. The date was discussed as well. So far, the general consensus is: same place, same time more or less, depending on the dates of the National.

Getting together with like-minded people is one of the greatest pleasures of this and other hobbies. I learn more each year, increasing my appreciation of the people and the histories involved in collecting. You'd think that after the treasures I've managed to get my hands on over the past 5 years, that my life as an insulator collector would be complete. Nah!!! I got a long ways to go yet.

Jack and Shelley Harynuk from Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island.

I know I speak for the others when I say a great big and warm "Thank You" to Dave and Daryl. My hubby, Dennis, also enjoyed his day touring garage sales with Dave's wife, Arlette, and Mel's wife, Fern. Medicine Hat is a lovely city indeed. There are other pictures of the show on InsulatorsCanada.com. Click on the "Shows and Events Forum" & look for 5th Annual WCIC show posting. Photo credits for this column go to Lena Braman and Rod Bushfield.

The fall Insulators-In-The-Mountains meet was held on the Insulator Ranch, home of Bev and Bob Scafe, on the weekend of Sept 10 & 11 near Merritt BC. While the weather was a bit cooler than usual, guests from as far away as England and Ontario enjoyed the camaraderie, insulators and good food. There were some impressive old threadless insulators that walked in with an older fellow who had gathered them over the years. He may not have picked many insulators, but he found some nice ones!

This column's header photo is used with thanks to Ian MacKy. This is an insulator that has been found mainly in western Canada. The threadless CD 734 McMicking insulator is embossed "Victoria BC" on the other side and is usually found in lighter shades of aqua.

Feel free to drop CJOW or myself a note if you have anything you would like to see covered in the way of Canadian insulator news or information.

Robin Plewes, Almonte Ontario 
(613) 256-7638 or robin.plewes@cmcelectronics.ca