11802 - 145 St., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5L 2H3
Ph: 780 - 451-4549   Fax: 780-454-2776
Brad Ward cell: 780-940-8378

 


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February 18th, 2012
I picked up over 600 pieces of jewellery from one location this week. A few of the pieces will be in the February 26th auction but I think the lions share will be dealt with later. It's the type of collection that could warrant a stand alone jewellery auction, or we could put the collection in with the next three Antiques/Estate Auctions, stay tuned for details.

 I also picked up a nice little coin and paper money collection that we'll sell in March. It's mostly Canadian coins, pre 1970. I plan on doing a coin sale in March if a few other consignors that I've been talking to bring their collections in, once again, stay tuned for details.


Brad


Photo taken at the "Precious Metal Gala". What a Great Night That Was.
2011 Edmonton Motor Show

Last year, at the 2011 Edmonton Motorshow, I was working the Friday night at the Ron Hodgson Chevrolet / Pacemaker Performance Booth. Much to my delight I learned that The Electric Garage was holding a collector car auction in the hall next to ours. Needless to say I found myself in the auction room more than at my assigned post. I didn't feel too bad because we really were over staffed for the crowd that evening.

 The Motorshow is right around the corner and EG Auctions is holding their collector car auction there once again. Last years collection of iron was very impressive and EG did a great job of presenting it. I suspect this year will be even better.

1:00PM Saturday, Feature #1,
 Bad 69 Camaro Pro Touring! One Of A Kind Show Machine
See EG's Website For More Details
February 9th, 2012
Not that this picture does it justice, but this bedroom suite is an amazing example of skilled craftsmanship at its best. This and some other choice pieces were delivered today.

Stay tuned for an official website update this weekend. Clocks, jewellery, artwork and more for the February 26th auction has been listed and will be unveiled.


Brad

February 5, 2012

The convention is done and by all accounts it was a great success. Below are a few pictures in no order. They include the Tyro Contest, The All Around Canadian Auctioneer Championship, the assorted awards etc.

Brad

Bob Perlich and Dave Sharp

Jayne 'The Auction Goddess' Wourms and Andrew Wourms

Tracy Pollard competing in the All Around and Nick Gulka, last years Tyro Winner

 

Saturdays Band,
St.James Gate
 http://www.boysofstjamesgate.ca/

Dwayne Denkle receives the 1st Place Buckle for All Around Canadian Auctioneer from Ron Victor.

All of the Tyro Contestants

The Tyro Winner Selling During the Awards

The Top Three All Around Winners

Dwayne Denkle, 1st place winner. Selling my donation
2012 Canadian All Around Auctioneer

Linda Baggaley, Les Bishop, Robert Lind

John Perlich, our new President gets the gavel of leadership from Robert Lind, our outgoing leader.
February 3, 2012

The 2012 Alberta Auctioneers Convention is well under way and going, going, going as smooth as silk. It's been a few years since I attended the annual convention and I've noticed a few things.
Most notably, all these guys seemed to have aged while I look the same, weird.

We've had some great seminars and speakers. Dausen Kluin is a young man with Cerebral Palsy that has more positive energy almost anyone I know. Dausen spoke to us this morning and his strength will carry me for some time to come. Photographer Dwight Arthur from Phototek taught us a few things about taking and editing photos. I learned some great things but you wont see them implemented until I have more time to work on the processes. Humorist, musician and artist Ben Crane told us a joke or two and jammed out some tunes with the help of his daughter Jessica.

The organizers did a great job because the day was inspirational, educational and entertaining.

Tonight, after supper, we hold the "Tyro" contest. New auctioneers are forced to stand in front of all their seasoned peers and auction items donated to the event. It's like organized bullying and I'm sure several of them will end up in tears. I made a Bobby Orr collage including a signed photo, puck, cards etc. Tomorrow night the winner of the Tyro will be announced and he/she will sell a few more items including my donation.

Brad

  Ben Crane
http://www.bencrane.com

"In addition to his music and twisted greeting card art, he is also a sculptor, illustrator, commission artist, husband and father living in Alberta. It is even rumoured that he actually has friends too".

    

Dausen Kluin
 http://dausenkluin.wordpress.com/

"Dausen Kluin was born with Cerebral Palsy and has limited mobility on the left side of his body. This hasn’t stopped Dausen from achieving his goals as becoming a motivational speaker and being recognized as a World Arm Wrestling Champion. When you hear Dausen reflect on his life journey, you understand that from an early age he conquered obstacles and pushed himself to exceed his body’s goals and limitations."

Click here for Video Documentary of Dausen
 


Pictures of my Tyro donation

 
January 28, 2012

It's been a busy week since the last auction, as always. Appraisals, paperwork, write consignor cheques etc. We packed up aunty Betty's apartment as well. That's a job we do several times a month and have done for the majority of my adult life but it's so much different when it's one of my own loved ones. It probably effects the way I deal with people clearing their estate homes, hopefully for the better.

The  Auctioneers' Association of Alberta's annual convention is only days away. I'm looking forward to that, both for the social and educational aspects. Arthur Clausen receives his 40 year member award this year.

That's it for now. Happy hunting!


Brad

January 20, 2012

If I had a dime for every time I've had this conversation I would control the worlds dime reserves.


Brad

 
January 19, 2012
The final listing for this weekends sales has now been posted. I will probably do one more posting of the last few pictures, time permitting.

Below are pictures of the room taken this afternoon. New paint and new room layout. I think it will work better for most people and sale operations. The only hassle I see so for is one post. Choose your seat carefully.

Jayne (AKA Auction Goddess) has her auction blog at http://wardsauctions.blogspot.com/  and I have no doubt she'll keep it up to date.

Brad

January 16, 2012

Arthur stopped at the shop yesterday while we were cataloguing and brought me in a bottle of Jefferson's Reserve Bourbon. It was past noon Mountain Time and without a doubt it was Five O'clock somewhere, so I felt it was ok to sample it. I highly recommend it as a straight sipping drink and for those that think my coffee is too strong, it dilutes coffee with the best of them. Thanks Art.

I posted another 100 pictures between yesterday and this morning for the Jan 22 auction and I'm sure there will be another 100 before weeks end.

Ciao for now
Brad
January 14, 2012

 I took a few pictures in the house we packed up yesterday as you can see below. I don't know which pieces will be in the Jan 22 auction and which will be held over to February. We now have to much in the room for this coming sale so we'll catalogue until we're full and then find somewhere to hide the rest of the items away.

Several of us will be working through the weekend because, as usual, there is not enough days in the week. I expect to post items on the website tonight or with my coffee Sunday morning that we get listed today.

Brad

January 12, 2012

24 hours late is the same as being on time for a predicted website update, right? Tomorrow Jayne and I will be packing up some nice smalls in an estate house. I'm sure we wont get them listed until next week but, if I remember, I'll take some pictures before we pack to show you some of the items early.

January 10, 2012

With Aunty Betty's service behind me it's time to get caught up at work. Today I'll be picking things up at the Public Trustees in Edmonton. That usually means jewellery and other neat personal property. I'll get some items posted for the January 22nd auction tomorrow, I hope.
January 5, 2012

I guess there is no rule that says a blog, or in my case a blah'g, has to be happy, but I really didn't want to start mine with such heartbreak.

Schiavon, Betty
October 16, 1928 – December 31, 2011
 On December 31, 2011, Betty Schiavon of Edmonton passed away peacefully at the age of 83 years.

She is survived by two sisters, Pat (Bob) Cumberland and Margaret Avery; one brother, Jack  (Doreen) Avery; cousin, Maureen Grave; niece and Goddaughter, Karen Meunier; nephew, Michael Grave (Marijke Postma); great niece and great nephew, Chelsee (Mathew) Pedwell and Tyler Meunier and their father, Lou as well as her Godsons, Stephen and Bradley Ward.
Betty was predeceased by her husband, Gaston Schiavon. 
To send condolences, please visit www.connelly-mckinley.com

Second only to my mom in being a mother to me, Aunt Betty was an important part of my life since the day I was born and she will continue to influence my thoughts and behaviour until I too am done on this planet. I take comfort in the fact that Aunty Betty had a long and healthier than average life. After retiring from a long working career Betty did not sit around doing nothing. My mom and I worked her like a slave until my mom passed away over ten years ago, at which point I worked Betty even harder because she had to do moms work as well as her own. Betty volunteered at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for the past several years and of course came back to work the auctions upon the recent rebirth of Ward's Auctions.

If heaven is real you can bet Aunty Betty is telling them how better to run it already.

Love you Aunt Bet
Brad