Norm Ratcliffe (#3677)
Norm Ratcliffe, like many license plate collectors, started his collection with a single plate. He stumbled upon a 1956 Ontario license plate in an abandoned farmhouse near his home in 1980. Soon after finding that original plate Norm started searching garages, antique stores and everywhere in between for treasures to add to his collection.
Norm discovered ALPCA in 1982 through the US Department of Transportation and quickly joined the club. He shifted his collecting focus to law enforcement license plates after seeing a State Police license plate display at the 1991 ALPCA convention in Kansas City Missouri. He collects plates from around the world, proudly displaying them in his home office along with other police memorabilia. In 2002 Norm won Best in Show for his display of state trooper plates from across the United States at the 48th ALPCA convention in Niagara Falls New York. Included in his collection are law enforcement tags from Canada, United States, Egypt, Italy, and China. His goal is to collect one from every jurisdiction worldwide. In April 2015 Norm authored the cover story in PLATES magazine on State Police plates. As a provincial police officer Norm is part of a resolute community of law enforcement officers who study and collect license plates.
Norm has assisted in providing security at dozens of national conventions. Norm's easy going but firm demeanor is the right combination to make sure everyone attending a convention is safe. He also assists during the auctions, spotting bidders and passing out license plates to the winners.
Born in Montreal Quebec in February of 1966 he moved to Ontario in 1980 where he still lives today. He graduated with a political science degree from York University in Toronto and went on to work for the Ministry of Labour in Ontario for thirty years as a Health and Safe Industrial Inspector. He married the love of his life Raquel in 1995 and they have a daughter Emily who is following her father's footsteps pursuing a career in law enforcement.
The Hall of Fame is proud to welcome our first Canadian member and a genuine great guy in Norm Ratcliffe.