The Canadian Pigeon Fanciers Association (CPFA) is the Canadian equivalent to the NPA in the U.S.. We are now in the process of organizing what has the makings of a fantastic show. The dates will be January 9th & 10th 2009 in Brandon, Manitoba. Brandon is located in the very centre of Canada in an Agricultural based setting where Cattle, grain, hogs and horses drive much of the economy. The show site is fantastic. It is a location used year round to host equestrian events, large cattle shows, and all sorts of trade shows and sporting events such as hockey and curling (Canada's favorite sports). The show hall is new and very well lit and is just one of many connected in a very large complex. A new hotel with a water park rises from among the show halls and is actually a part of the facility so once you arrive you do not even have to step outside until you are ready to leave. Two restaurants and two lounges are also a part of the facility. To get to the show you just walk down a hall from the hotel lobby and into the show. A block of rooms has been reserved for the show on a first come first serve basis. To book your room call the Canad Inn in Brandon @ 204-727-1422. The rooms are reserved under the name CPFA National Classic Show.
I am also in the process of helping to organize what will be the greatest Jacobin Show Canada has ever seen as part of this classic. This will be the Canadian National Jacobin Show. Judge will be world renowned Jacobin breeder Bernd Wanke from Germany.
In Jacobins we have already confirmed that almost every breeder in Canada will be there with birds. There will be a minimum of 300 Canadian Jacobins and any U.S. birds will be a bonus. So far I have had great interest from U.S. breeders who want to attend. Doug Boyland is bringing a show team from Calif. and Steve Gaskin, Ron Davis, Pat and Jim Avery as well as Bob and Vicki Kobel from Colorado are planning to be there. U.S. Master Breeders Sergio DeAlmeida and Dennis Soares have also contacted me and expressed interest in attending with birds. I have also been contacted by Ian Campton, Clint DeBoni and Peter Smith of Australia who are now planning to be there, most likely along with some other Australian breeders. Both Clint and Peter are going to try to bring some of their top Australian birds over to compete in the show and then sell them. We are going to work with them to see if we can get this done, however regardless they will be attending the show. I have also received word that the great Jacobin breeders, Jim McGarrigle and Pat McKeirnan from Ireland and Nick Smith from England will be attending. Several of our Jacobin friends from the Middle East have also expressed interest in being at this show. It seems like the list of those planning to attend gets bigger every week. There will be a great set of beautiful awards up for grabs as well as a Jacobin auction with select birds being donated from many of Canada's top breeders to help support this show. Creams and Mealies from Bill Sacher, Blacks and Yellows from Clint Robertson, Blues and Silvers from Justin Robertson and Browns, Almonds and Whites from Todd Toews and Guy Perreault and I am sure there will be more in time as I get to talk to more of our membership. These auction birds will be world class with only outstanding quality representing our programs being allowed to sell and we are proud of that.
The Canadian Pigeon Fanciers Association has named this show the CPFA classic. It will also be the Western Canadian National Show. We are therefore working on promoting specialty breed meets with many specialty judges. Some of the ones we know of so far are a large West of England Tumbler meet with Doug Boyland from Calif. as Judge and Bob Pilchar as the contact person. A Pouter and Cropper specialty meet with Jürgen Waldenmaier from Germany as Judge. John Taupert will be the contact person for the Pouter and Cropper meet as well as the German toy breeds. We expect this to be a large Voorburg show with U.S. Master Breeder John Johnson planning to be there with birds and we also expect a large Brunner entry. A Frill meet with George Van Vliet as judge. A Baldhead, Show Roller and American show Roller meet with Ernie Silveri as the contact person. An English Trumpeter meet being organized by Gerald Wiebe with Peter Wolfe as Judge. A Fantail meet being organized by Casey Vandermeer with Bob Vincent as Judge. A Komorner Tumbler meet with Darrell Sebastian as your contact person. The International Modena club plans to hold their meet with us. Expect to see some Bokhara Trumpeters from the great Manitoba breeders: Bob Loewen and Vic PayJack and we are hoping Bob Kobel will judge the Bokharas for us. As well as many more specialty breed shows that we are working on. Anyone interested in holding a specialty meet at this event can feel free to contact Bob Pilchar @ capitol_bran@landmarkcinemas.ca or phone Bob at 204-727-5270. You may also contact myself at barj@mts.net and we would be glad to work with you.
Following the show an elite auction will take place to help fund this large world class event. A select pair of birds from the best breeders in each breed will be offered for auction. These birds will be for the serious breeders wanting to aquire elite stock. The birds will be screened and preselected and will showcase some of the best in each breed. We are planning for about 15 pair of world class pigeons. What an event this will be!
Birds must be in by Thursday evening and judging will begin Friday morning and continue Saturday morning if need be. The rest of Saturday we will reserve our judging areas for trading, selling and viewing birds. We feel this is much needed time as we do not get together often enough. There will be a banquet Saturday night. Sunday we will start taking people back to the airport and everyone can leave.
Bob Pichar, Bill Sacher and myself are working to set up a shuttle service for those flying into the show. Anyone flying in will need to land in Winnipeg and we will pick you up there. It is a two hour drive west on the Trans-Canada highway from Winnipeg to Brandon. Anyone bringing in birds from the U.S. needs federal U.S.D.A. stamped health papers and will need to have the birds inspected upon arrival. I have done it many times so if you have questions please contact me and I will also book appointments with the federal Vet in Winnipeg on your behalf. Just remember that the birds coming from the U.S. must be inspected at the first port of entry coming into Canada so if you have a connection in Calgary or Toronto first then they must be inspected there. This should not be a problem as long as we know in advance and have time to make appointments. All birds and people coming to the show must arrive on Thursday January 8th. Those driving across the border can do so and have the birds inspected at the border crossing however check with me first to plan your route so I can confirm a vet will be at a particular port of entry at a given time. Also keep in mind that the federal vets only work regular hours so any after hours inspections will cost more and will take longer as you will need to wait for the vet to arrive unless we make arrangements ahead of time. Try to cross between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm. Again all birds need to be in by Thursday evening. The show begins first thing Friday morning so we will not be free to pick up people or birds after Thursday.
If anyone has more questions please feel free to contact me at barj@mts.net or Bob Pilchar @ capitol_bran@landmarkcinemas.ca Clint Robertson