Press Release - May 2, 2009
The 37th Annual Canada's Greatest Collectors' Toy Show
On Sunday, October 18th thousands of toy collecting enthusiasts will gather at the Skyway Trade and Conference Centre to buy, trade, chat, swap, and get terribly nostalgic about their cherished toys from the past. 'Most of these collectors, like myself, are completely hooked on the hobby with a passion that goes beyond the norm', says Tony Reich, Editor of the 'Canadian Toy Collector' magazine. Most of these enthusiasts are not young in years, but are grown up children who still love the art of collecting. 'In over 30 years of participating in these shows there is always something surprising that turns up and often you just have to grab it' says Larry Stricker, President of the Canadian Toy Collectors' Society, a group of mainly Toronto based collectors.
This is the place to find rare Canadian toys, and some years ago the executive of the Society set up a fund to purchase rare Canadian toys to prevent them from leaving the country. That collection now numbers over 800 pieces comprising dolls, games, trucks, die cast cars, tricycles, dolls houses, construction kits, and peddle cars. Many of these are in mint museum condition and will be on public display at upcoming exhibition of Canadian toys to be mounted by the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Ontario in early 2010. 
The CTCS show will have over 100 tables and demonstrations by various toy and hobby clubs, like the Meccano Club, from around the GTA. The action starts early on Sunday morning and the real enthusiasts often purchase an early bird pass to gain entry to snap up those really sought after pieces. The show attracts collectors and dealers from Europe and across Canada and North America so it's worth the extra expense if you have come that far to be there. The club also produces a limited edition 1:43rd scale special commemorative white metal model by Brooklin Models each year for the show. This year it is a 1936 Stout Scarab honouring the brave Troopers serving their country and the people of Afghanistan as they perform their duties far from family friends and their homes..
Some collectors anxious to revisit their childhood spend in the thousands for rare pieces or collections. This is also the venue to find out about forgotten pieces that have been kept in the attic, dusted off and brought to the show, as here is the one place a year to find genuine authorities on the toys. Many shows have suffered in recent years with the popularity of eBay as a source for collecting, but the advantage of visiting specialized shows like the Canada’s Greatest Collectors’ Toy Show is that you can handle the goods, see the condition for yourself, compare prices, haggle or even just window shop. 
The Toronto area show is Canada's premier collectors toy show, and has the reputation for being 'the friendly show'. Show organizer Brian McArthur admits, 'that while attendance is not what it used to be, the quality of toys at the show stays consistently high and the camaraderie of the vendors and collectors is unbeatable'. If you want to experience this for yourself be sure to visit the Canada's Greatest Collectors' Toy Show at the Skyway Trade and Conference Centre on Sunday, October 18th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and bring the family because there is something for everyone there. Of course, the truly serious collector will obtain 'floor-trading rights' and attend on Saturday October 17th from 3:00 pm - 9:00 pm, and again on Sunday October 18th starting at 7:00 am.
The hall is located at 65 Skyway Avenue, Etobicoke (Toronto), on the corner of Dixon Road and Skyway Avenue (just east of Pearson Airport).
For further details, please contact Brian McArthur at 905-820-2697 or email ctcstoyshow@hotmail.com |