Tim Hittel shares his journey into collecting and organizing the upcoming 22nd annual Antiques and Collectibles Show and Sale, highlighting the significance of vintage memorabilia, local history, and the evolving market for collectibles.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the show and guest
02:03 History of organizing the antique and gun show
03:57 Personal collection: hockey caps and memorabilia
06:56 Collecting hockey cards and local sports memorabilia
10:03 History of local hockey teams and notable players
14:59 The significance of local hockey programs and memorabilia
20:06 Market trends and the value of collectibles
22:49 The impact of COVID on collectibles and hobbies
25:50 International and local buyers at the show
28:59 The future of collectibles and market predictions
29:58 Closing remarks and event details

The Antiques Collectibles Gun and Hobby Show is back, and it’s hard to believe it’s already the 22nd annual event! Tim Hittel, the driving force behind the show, shares some fascinating insights into how it all began and what attendees can expect this year. Tim's journey started over two decades ago after he attended an antique show in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan. Inspired by the vendors there, he decided to host a similar event in Medicine Hat. What began as a modest gathering has now blossomed into a massive show featuring over 330 tables of antiques and collectibles, including a mix of guns and hobbies.

Initially held in a single building, the show has now expanded to occupy a larger venue to accommodate the increasing number of vendors and attendees. "I’m now in the bigger building. The pavilion was 22,000 square feet. This is 33,000 square feet. I need the room."
This year’s show will take place on Saturday, October 3rd, and Sunday, October 4th, with hours from 10 AM to 6 PM on Saturday and 10 AM to 4 PM on Sunday. It’s an excellent time of year for such events, especially with local farmers potentially wrapping up their harvests.

Tim also shared some of his personal collection, which includes remarkable items like hockey caps and Tiger memorabilia. He reminisced about his childhood visits to his grandmother's general store, where he would collect coke machine caps, igniting his passion for collecting.
"I emptied out the coke machines and took all the caps. I got some of the ones right here. These are all hockey caps from 1965." His dedication to collecting is a testament to the joy and history that comes with antiques. Tim continues to seek out rare items to complete his collections, emphasizing that for him, it’s about passion rather than investment.

As we gear up for this year’s show, it’s a moment to celebrate not just the antiques and collectibles but also the community that has grown around them. Each item tells a story, and every collector shares a journey. If you're in the area, don’t miss this opportunity to connect with local history and fellow enthusiasts there's always something new to discover!

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