Our Mission

The Canadian Aerophilatelic Society (CAS) provides a forum for the exchange of information among Canadians who are interested in any aspect of world‑wide aerophilately, and for collectors from around the world who are interested in Canadian aerophilately. This is mainly achieved through our quarterly journal, The Canadian Aerophilatelist, and through this website at aerophilately.ca.

Our scope is deliberately wide: we welcome the study of all aspects of aerophilately, from its earliest pioneer‑flight covers to modern first flights, together with astrophilately.

Our Objectives

The Canadian Aerophilatelist, the Society has four formal objectives:

  1. To promote the advancement and growth of aerophilately in Canada.
  2. To provide a forum for the exchange of information and news about aerophilately among members.
  3. To represent Canadian aerophilatelists at the national and international levels.
  4. To promote and support aerophilatelic research in Canada.

How We Put Our Objectives into Practice

Publishing. The Canadian Aerophilatelist has appeared quarterly since 1 July 1985 and remains the Society’s flagship publication (The Canadian Aerophilatelist — Final Issue masthead). In partnership with the American Air Mail Society, the CAS co‑publishes the standing reference The Air Mails of Canada and Newfoundland — first edition 1997, second edition 2022, with an ongoing Supplement.

Research support and reference services. The Society maintains a searchable library, an expanding online archive of back issues and indexes, and offers members a question‑and‑answer service for mystery air mail stamps and covers.

Meetings. The Society’s Annual General Meeting is held each spring at ORAPEX in Ottawa (Canadian Stamp News — CAS, RPSC Chapter 187). Each autumn the CAS co‑hosts the Day of Aerophilately in Toronto with the BNAPS Air Mail Study Group at the Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation (Greene Foundation — Day of Aerophilately).

Support for exhibitors. At any Canadian show fielding three or more airmail, aerophilatelic, or astrophilately exhibits, the CAS presents two awards — Best Canadian Airmail and Best World Airmail — open to CAS members and non‑members alike. The Society also offers a one‑year complimentary CAS membership to first‑time airmail exhibitors at Canadian national shows (The Canadian Aerophilatelist Issue 80). I

Writing Awards. The CAS presents the annual Canadian Aerophilatelist Editor’s Award for outstanding research and contributions to the journal.

Representation. As RPSC Chapter #187, APS Affiliate No. 189, the Canadian Chapter of the American Air Mail Society, and a Club Member of FISA (the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Aérophilatéliques), the CAS represents Canadian aerophilatelists in the national and international philatelic community.

Membership

Membership in the Canadian Aerophilatelic Society is open to all. The Society currently has approximately 150 members worldwide.