In July of 2013, I had the great pleasure to visit the Alberta Museum of Chinese Horology in Peace River and its curator, Mr. Ron Good.

Peace River is a beautiful place. I’ve seen some of Ron’s pictures before, but, as good as they are, no photograph can compare to being there and seeing it in person. The town is situated in a deep valley and is surrounded by trees and meadows. The land around the valley’s rim (or “up top” as is sometimes said in Saskatchewan) has many farms.

The town is small, but it has more services than some similarly sized towns because it is a main centre of a relatively large region. Like many communities in western Canada it has become increasingly multicultural in the past few years. I had the opportunity to meet some truly wonderful people while I was there.

The AMCHPR is undoubtedly the best place outside of China for a VCM fan to visit. Ron’s collection is astonishing, and I appreciate the chance to see and touch the watches and associated materials.

Ron has also accumulated a fascinating collection of non-watch related items, many of which he brought back from China. It was very helpful to get a small glimpse of Chinese culture from them. Additionally it was great to see some of the props he uses in his drool-inducing photos.

While the AMCHPR has many treasures, the invaluable one is its curator. Not only was he a most welcoming and generous host, the immense amount of knowledge and insight he has acquired is priceless. I especially liked to hear his impressions of China and its watch-collecting community. He also introduced me to Chinese pop music, something of which I have little knowledge. I like what I’ve heard so far.

Speaking of music, I had the great pleasure to hear Ron perform. As a singer and a harmonica player, he is an extremely talented and seasoned musician.

Ron generously gave me some very difficult-to-find items, which can be seen in this gallery. Thank you, Ron, for your kindness and friendship, and I hope to see you again soon.