Jean Rowe, auctioneer and owner of Auction House Vancouver Island in Comox, attended the Alberta Auctioneers Association Annual Conference. The B.C. Auctioneers Association will be joining Alberta as a B.C. chapter.

Rowe met the Canadian Pickers, a popular Cineflix cable vision reality series on HTV. Both Scott Cozens and Sheldon Smithens were supportive in helping to promote small business, and promised to visit Auction House VI on their next excursion to the Island.

"I asked them very pointed questions relating to the actual setup of the show," Rowe said. "I wanted to know if any were like the many U.S. reality series where items are 'planted.' They assured me, none of their shows are set up. In fact, they told producers that if in fact they did, Sheldon and Scott would both walk away from the series. So, everything you see on the program is the first for them also."

Cozens and Smithens, who is also an auctioneer, are on the road in Ontario taping, but took time out before they left to attend the conference and meet with new and seasoned auctioneers from Western Canada. Approximately 130 people attended the conference.

"While in Alberta I completed my formal auctioneers training and completed two separate courses pertaining to Alberta law, which are compulsory to take before being affiliated with the Alberta Association," the new auctioneer says. "All three courses taught me a lot about the auction business so the training is a positive step toward a more successful auction in the Comox Valley."

Auction House Vancouver Island holds a weekly auction Tuesdays at 6 p.m., with specialty auctions during the year. Location is 1611 Hudson Rd., off Ryan Road near CFB Comox.

A large storage auction is being held March 19.

Check www.AuctionHouseVi.com for details on upcoming auctions or on line bidding as an option.