Antique appraiser Terry Koutros loves small communities.
"Usually the little towns have more fun stuff," the co-owner of the Great Canadian Roadshow said.
He's seen everything under the sun, from old coins to Civil War swords and most recently, a 30,000-year-old woolly mammoth tusk. The 100-pound, five-foot-long tusk turned up in Stony Plain, Alta. A resident brought it to the antiques show after finding it collecting dusk in his father's basement, Koutros said. He walked away with a $2,000 cheque.
"A lot of people usually bring war memorabilia," Koutros said.
For the first time the company's three years, the Great Canadian Roadshow is coming to Squamish. The company, which was set up by Koutros and Boris Shreyberg, scours the country for unique items. Great Canadian Roadshow then purchases those items for collectors. The roadshow does pay for gold and silver, Koutros added.
"We will print a cheque right on the spot," he said.
The Great Canadian Roadshow will be at the Sandman Hotel and Suites at 39400 Discovery Way from Monday to Friday (Nov. 21 to 25). From Monday until Thursday, appraisers will look at items from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. On Friday, the appraisers will work from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Koutros expects approximately 200 people to come out each day. The appraisals are done in a private setting, he said. Items are appraised on a first-come, first-served basis, so make sure to get out early, Koutros noted.
"It is an intimate setting with our people," he said. "Typically there is about an hour's wait."
The Great Canadian Roadshow recently partnered with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. In the past 10 months, people who unearth their treasures have donated $100,000 to the foundation through the roadshow, Koutros said.
For more information on the company visit www.greatcanadianroadshow.com or call 1-800-746-0902.
