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Acknowledgement

Your participation is important.

Annual awards

 Since 1986, the purpose of the Canadian Railroad Historical Association (CRHA) Awards is to recognize and honour individuals and organizations whose endeavours in the previous year have contributed significantly to the recording and/or preservation of artifacts of historical value related to Canada’s railways.

Your participation is important

The Canadian Railroad Historical Association is inviting entries for its Annual Award program. The results of the past awards have been featured on the Association’s web site, in the pages of Canadian Rail, CRHA Communications, the Divisions’ newsletters as well as in other railway publications.

Many excellent articles about Canadian railways have appeared in 2023 publications. Several books have been published in recent years, now allied to the emergence of Multi-Media productions including “Video, Film, DVD & Web Site” creations all of which should be considered for Awards.

Important preservation activities have been undertaken as well, all of which the Canadian Railroad Historical Association, with the help of your nominations, wishes to acknowledge by these Annual Awards. Your participation is earnestly requested.

The calibre of the selections made over the past several years has been impressive. Your past nominations and help are appreciated by the Awards Committee who thanks you for the interest shown in taking the time required to submit nominations.

Recipients receive a certificate from the CRHA to acknowledge their contributions to preserving Canada’s railway heritage.

Categories of awards

1- Lifetime Achievement Award:

To a person for a significant contribution over a period of years.

2- Preservation Award:

To a person or a group of people, for an outstanding preservation or restoration activity in the Award year.

3- Article Award ( 2 prizes ):

For an article published in CANADIAN RAIL or other Division newsletter (2023).

For an article published in any other periodical or magazine (2023).

4- Book Award:

For a book published in the Award year (2023) or the previous year (2022).

5- Multi-Media Award:

For a Video / Film / DVD / Website on a railway-related subject.

The Awards Committee: Linda Schwey, members of the CRHA’s Board; Jean-Pierre Tremblay & Louis Turcotte, members of the CRHA.

Nominations

Nominations will be accepted from members and other persons interested in Canada’s railway history.

Nominations should bear the name of the nominee, his coordinates (if possible,) and the reasons for that person’s nomination. The nominator’s name and mailing address must be included. Persons or entities other than the nominee should make nominations. A copy of the nominated work should be submitted with the nomination whenever possible. The CRHA guarantees its return to the owner.

Awards nomination form PDF should be completed and submitted to annual.awards@exporail.org as early as possible, but in no case later than March 31th,2024.

List of recipients

Extraordinary Award

2019 : Gordon Lightfoot, for its song “Canadian Railroad Trilogy”, CRHA National Treasure Award.

Lifetime Achievement Award

To a person for a significant contribution over a period of years.

Note: past recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award are not eligible for re-nomination.

2021 Ian Wilson
Mike Westren
David LI. Davies		 2022
2019 David R Henderson 2020 J.F. John Garden
2018 Lorne C. Perry 2017 Gerald and Mary Janet Knowlton
 2016 Marie-Claude Reid  2015 Derek Boles
 2014 Ross Robinson  2013 Charles DeJean
 2012 Bill Linley  2011 Barrie Sanford
 2010 Doug Smith  2009 Ronald S. Ritchie
 2008 Daniel Laurendeau  2007 Donald Bain
 2006 Jacques Pharand  2005 Robert D. Turner
 2004 Earl Roberts  2003 Henry W. Ewert
 2002 William Lesurf  2001 Stephen Cheasley
 2000 Dr. David Johnson  1999 Dr. Andrew Panko
 1998 Mervyn (Mike) Green  1997 A. Stephen Walbridge
 1996 James A. Brown  1995 David S. Wilkie
 1994 Walter J. Bedbrook  1993 Nicholas Morant
 1992 Allan Paterson and Dick George  1991 Peter Murphy
 1990 Fred Angus  1989 Dr. Robert V.V. Nicholls
 1988 Ray Corley  1987 Omer Lavallée

 

Preservation Award

2019 Heritage Park Historical Village – Reconditioning of Canadian Pacific Colonist Sleeping car 1202
2016 Brian Manning – Restoration to full-operating of CP#414328, ex-CPR 100-ton steam-powered wrecking crane at Calgary’s “Heritage Park’s Historical Village”
2015 (not awarded)
2014 Keith Heller – Restoration of locomotive CNR SW-1200 as #1382 to green and yellow “as delivered” paint scheme
2013 Donald Frank Broadbear – Restoration of locomotives, steam engines, coaches and other railway equipment
2012 two (2) recipients: The team of Exporail Volunteers – MTCo #3 streetcar
City of Brockville – Brockville Railway Tunnel
2011 (not awarded)
2010 ( not awarded )
2009 two (2) recipients : MRC d’Argenteuil – Lachute Heritage Station ‘The Black Gang’ – Prairie Dog Central steam locomotive # 3
2008 ( not awarded )
2007 Brian West – ‘Canadian National Passenger Equipment’
2006 John Burbidge – Restoration of ex-CPR ‘Fairbanks-Morse’ locomotive # 4104
2005 two (2) recipients : Orangedale Station Association – ICR Station – CN Caboose – GE44T Diesel Locomotive David Venables and Associates – ‘WADDON’ Steam Engine
2004 Ronald and Olive Cooper – ‘Halton County Radial Railway’ & LSR # 23
2003 Dr. Allan Westland – Locomotive à vapeur CNoR # 1112
2002 ‘The Kamloops Heritage Railway’
2001 ‘Canadian Museum of Rail Travel’ – The Royal Alexandra Hall
2000 Ronald and Ollie Cooper – London Street Railway Car # 23
1999 two (2) recipients : Bill LeSurf and the ‘Smith Falls Railway Museum’ Team Volunteers at the ‘Canadian Railway Museum’ for the restoration of Canadian National FPA-4 locomotive # 6765
1998 ( not awarded )
1997 William C. Bailey – rebirth of streetcar # 1231 – see article in Canadian Rail, no 459, September 1997
1996 the ‘Kootenay Lake Historical Society’ – National Historic Site S .S. Moyïe
1995 ( not awarded )
1994 the ‘Canadian Northern Society’
1993 the ‘Nelson Electric Tramway Society’
1992 the ‘Cranbrook Archives Museum and Landmark Foundation’ – repatriation of the 1907 Observation / Sleeper Car ‘Curzon’
1991 the ‘Kingstonship Historical Society’ – Restoration of the 140-year-old Kingston Railway Station
1990 the ‘WestCoast Railway Association’ – Restoration of # 1890 CPR wooden business car ‘British Columbia’
1989 ‘Heritage Park’, Calgary, AB – Restoration of Canadian Pacific Passenger Car # 141, built in 1907
1988 the Cranbrook Railway Museum
1987 J.E. Lanigan: CPR caboose # 437358 at Heritage Park, Calgary, AB

 

Article in a C.R.H.A. publication

2019 Douglas R Phillips – PAY CARS OF THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY, a three part article, nos 583 (March-April 2018), 588 (January-February 2019) and 589 (March-April 2019)
2016 Douglas Smith – THE ORIGINS OF THE CANADIAN NORTHERN RAILWAY, parts 1, 2 & 3 Canadian Rail, nos. 572, 573 & 574 May to October 2016
2015 Peter Murphy – THE PCC STREETCAR IN CANADA – LE TRAMWAY PCC AU CANADA Canadian Rail, no 569, November-December 2015
2014 Douglas Smith, THE GRAND TRUNK PACIFIC, Canadian Rail, no. 562, September-October 2014
2013 Patrick O. Hind – HOW CP PIONEERED REMOTE CONTROL OPERATION IN CANADA, The Sandhouse, Autumn 2013
2012 Henry Ewert – THE THIRD MAIN LINE OF THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY Canadian Rail, no. 551, November-December 2012
2011 (not awarded)
2010 Herb MacDonald – THE EARLY HORSE-POWERED MINING RAILWAYS OF CAPE BRETON Canadian Rail, no. 534, January-February 2010
2009 Josée Vallerand & Doug Smith RAILWAY GARDENS – LES JARDINS DE GARE Canadian Rail, no. 530, May-June 2009
2008 Stephen Wray, Denis Vallières, Peter Murphy, Denis Latour A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE CRHA – UN APERÇU DE L’HISTOIRE DE L’ACHF Canadian Rail, nos. 521, 522 & 525, November-December 2007, January-February 2008, July-August 2008
2007 ( not awarded )
2006 Fred Angus THE SESQUINCENTENNIAL OF THE MONTREAL-TORONTO TRAIN SERVICE Canadian Rail, no. 514, September-October 2006
2005 Ken Heard RAILWAYS A CANADIAN OBSESSION Canadian Rail, no. 504, January-February 2005
2004 Kenneth M. Atkey THE RAILWAY TO PORT GUICHON The Sandhouse, Vol. 29, No. 3, issue 115, Fall 2004
2003 Herb MacDonald THE LOST YEARS OF THE CHAMPLAIN AND ST. LAWRENCE Canadian Rail, no. 493, March-April 2003
2002 Jay Underwood FRUIT OF A POISONED TREE Canadian Rail, no. July-August 2002
2001 Fred Angus THE SAGA OF THE COTE DES NEIGES STREET CAR LINE Canadian Rail, no. 480, January-February 2001
2000 Herb MacDonald THE ALBION RAILWAY OF 1839-40 Canadian Rail, no. 474, January-February 2000
1999 Fred Angus FIFTY YEARS OF CANADIAN RAIL Canadian Rail, no. 472, September-October 1999
1998 Eric Johnson TAILS OF TRAILS AND RAILS The Sandhouse, September 1998
1997 Robert D.Turner HAIDA GWALI’S STEAM LOGGING RAILWAY Canadian Rail, no 457, March-April 1997
1996 David L.I. Davies NEST OF CROW AND TRACK OF IRON Canadian Rail, July-August 1996
1995 Hughes Bonin THE PHILATELIC COLUMN Kingston Rail, November-December 1995
1994 Mervyn T. Green THE CANADIAN NORTH-EASTERN RAILWAY Canadian Rail, no. 442, September-October 1994
1993 Fred F. Angus THE CANADIAN RAILWAY TROOPS IN WORLD WAR I – LEST WE FORGET Canadian Rail, no 437
1992 Geoffrey A. Lester SOME PRE-CANADIAN PACIFIC PROMOTIONS FOR A CANADIAN TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILWAY Canadian Rail No. 429, July-August 1992
1991 Robert G. Burnet THE RAILWAY TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE Canadian Rail, no. 425, November-December 1991
1990 two (2) recipients : Dr. Fritz Lechmann JAMES GOOD AND THE TORONTO LOCOMOTIVE WORKS Peter D. Lockefor THE REID NEWFOUNDLAND COMPANY AND ITS INFLUENCE ON NEWFOUNDLAND, 1898 TO 1923
1989 David Llewelyn Davies EMBANKMENT
1988 Allan Graham THE GRAND CONNECTION Canadian Rail, September-October 1988
1987 two (2) recipients : Ena Schneider THE PEANUT ROAD Canadian Rail, May-June 1987 Douglas N.W. Smith LAYING THE FOUNDATION Canadian Rail, September-October 1987

Article in a Non-C.R.H.A. publication

2019 Rocky Mountain Books – WHEN TRAINS RULED THE ROCKIES, MY LIFE AT THE BANFF RAILWAY STATION
2016 (not awarded)
2015 (not awarded)
2014 Pierre Barrieau – A THESIS ON THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 94th ANNUAL TRB (Transport Research Board) MEETING OF THE U.S. ACADEMY OF SCIENCE – Washington D.C. January 2014
2013 Canadian Railway Modeller – July-August 2013 and November-December 2013 issues
2012 ( not awarded )
2011 ( not awarded )
2010 ( not awarded )
2009 ( not awarded )
2008 ( not awarded )
2007 ( not awarded )
2006 Denis Fortier HISTORIQUE DU CHEMIN DE FER DE CHARLEVOIX Revue d’histoire de Charlevoix, no. 52, March 2006
2005 (not awarded)
2004 Dave Andrew WITTS GO TO THE MOVIES Radial Report, no. 216, September 2004
2003 (not awarded)
2002 Michèle Giasson & Jacques Ruel LE TRANSPORT FERROVIAIRE DES MARCHANDISES DANS LA RÉGION DE LA CHAUDIÈRE-APPALACHES Innovation Transport no. 10, June 2001
2001 Norman Lowe CN & PULLMAN Branchline, Bytown Railway Society, Decembre 2001
2000 Roderick Taylor THE CASO LINE: RISING FROM THE GRAVE ? Branchline,Bytown Railway Society, Juin 2000
1999 J. Norman Lowe CANADIAN NATIONAL’S FORMER TURCOT ROUNDHOUSE, THE LARGEST IN CANADA Branchline Vol. 38, no. 10, Bytown Railway Society, November 1999
1998 Dan Lett NEW HOPE FOR MANITOBA’S NORTHERN RAILWAY Canadian Geographic, March-April 1998
1997 Gary R. Zuters et Mel Wilson CARTIER : ALCOS AND IRON ORE Railfan and Railroad Magazine, Décember 1997
1996 Stafford Swain and Ken Goslett CANADA’S EIGHT-HATCH ICED REFRIGERATOR CARS Railroad Model Craftsman 1995 & 1996, in three (3) parts
1995 ( not awarded )
1994 Clayton W. Morgan THE RAILWAYS OF CLARINGTON The Belvedere, no.1, 1994
1993 Adolf Hungry Wolf CRANBROOK ‘S WHEELS OF LUXURY Locomotive and Railway Preservation, May-June 1993
1992 Donald Davies TECHNOLOGICAL MOMENTUM, MOTOR BUSES AND THE PERSISTENCE OF CANADA’S STREET RAILWAYS TO 1940 Material History Review, no. 36, Fall 1992
1991 Elisabeth A. Tancock SECRET TRAINS ACROSS CANADA 1917-1918 appeared in The Beaver, published by ‘The Hudson’s Bay Company’
1990 Les Kozma & Charles Bohi THE CENTRAL WESTERN RAILWAY Railfan and Railroad Magazine
1989 Ken Goslett THE GE E-166 ELECTRIC : CN’S LONG-LASTING BOXCABS Railroad Model Craftsman, December 1989
1988 Philip Jago CURTAIN CALL FOR THE B&W Branchline, September 1988
1987 Dr. Fritz Lehmann A THOROUGH MAN OF BUSINESS Spring issue, 1997

 

Book award

2019 Terry Gainer – WHEN TRAINS RULED THE ROCKIES, MY LIFE AT THE BANFF RAILWAY STATION, Rocky Mountain Books
2016 David R.P. Guay – TRACKS TO THE TRENCHES, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, MArkham, ON / Railfare *DC Books 2016
2015 Ralph Beaumont – HECKMAN’S CANADIAN PACIFIC, 2015
2014 Robert D. Turner and Donald F. MacLachlan – VANCOUVER ISLAND’S ESQUIMAULT & NANAIMO’S RAILWAY, THE CPR, VIA AND THE SHORTLINE YEARS, 1949-2013, Sono Nis PRess, Winlaw, B.C., 2013
2013 Two (2) recipients : Herb MacDonald – CAPE BRETON RAILWAYS: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY, Cape Breton University Press, Sydney, NS, 2012 / Kenneth G. Pieroway – RAILS ACROSS THE ROCK, Crative Publishers, St. John’s, NL 2013
2012 Ken Goslett and Kevin J. Holland – CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES CNRHA, 2012
2011 J.R. Thomas Grumley – MONTREAL STREETCARS – VOLUME 4: WORK & SERVICE EQUIPMENT Bytown Railway Society, 2011
2010 Duncan du Fresne – WHEN STEAM & STEEL GET IN YOUR BLOOD – RECOLLECTIONS OF A CPR FIREMAN Bytown Railway Society, 2010
2009 ( not awarded )
2008 Derek Booth QUEBEC CENTRAL RAILWAY’ – FROM THE ST. FRANCIS TO THE CHAUDIÈRE Railfare DC Books
2007 two (2) recipients : Omer Lavallée and Charles Cooper CANADIAN PACIFIC TO THE EAST Bytown Railway Society, 2007 Robert D. Turner and J. S. Wilkie STEAM ALONG THE BOUNDARY Sono Nis Press, Victoria, B.C., 2007
2006 J.R. Thomas Grumley “MONTREAL STREETCARS – VOLUME 2 : PEOPLE & PLACES Bytown Railway Society, 2005
2005 Valerie Knowles FROM TELEGRAPHER TO TITAN – THE LIFE OF W.C. VAN HORNE The Dundurn Group, 2004
2004 Joe Smuin KETTLE VALLEY RAILWAY MILEBOARD North Kildonan Publications, 2003
2003 Richard McQuade FROM WOOD TO STEEL: CLASSIC CANADIAN RAILWAY PASSENGER CARS FROM 1860 TO 1920 Martin Grove Press, 2003
2002 Charles Cooper HAMILTON’S OTHER RAILWAY Bytown Railway Society, 2002
2001 Ken Bradley & Karen Southern POWELL RIVER’S RAILWAY ERA Sono Nis Press, Victoria, B.C., October 2000
2000 Donald R. McQueen et William D. Thomson CONSTRUCTED IN KINGSTON – A HISTORY OF THE CANADIAN LOCOMOTIVE CO. CRHA, March 2000
1999 Jacques Pharand LES TRAMWAYS DE QUÉBEC MNH, Beauport, 1998
1998 Randy P. Noseworthy. THE SCHOOL CAR
1997 Dr. Christopher Andreae LINES OF COUNTRY: ANAn Atlas of Railway and Waterway History in Canada Boston Mills Press, 1997
1996 two (2) recipients : Ian Bickle TURNMOIL AND TRIUMPH – THE CONTROVERSIAL RAILWAY TO HUDSON BAY Detselig Enterprises Ltd., Calgary, Alberta Frank Leonard A THOUSAND BLUNDERS – THE GRAND TRUNK PACIFIC RAILWAY AND NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA UBC Press, Vancouver, B.C.
1995 ( not awarded )
1994 Robert D. Turner and David S. Wilkie THE SKYLINE LIMITED Sono Nis Press, Victoria, B.C.
1993 John F. Garden NICHOLAS MORANT’S CANADIAN PACIFIC Footprint Publishing
1992 David Nason RAILWAYS OF NEW BRUNSWICK New Ireland Press, Fredericton, N.B., 1992
1991 Robert D. Turner LOGGING BY RAIL.
1990 Dr. A. Eagle THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF WESTERN CANADA
1989 Bytown Railway Society Inc. CANADIAN TRACKSIDE GUIDE 1989
1988 David Cruise and Ms. Alison Griffiths LORDS OF THE LINE Penguin Books of Canada, 1988
1987 Robert D. Turner WEST OF THE GREAT DIVIDE Sono Nis Press, Victoria B.C.,1987

 

Multimedia

2016 (not awarded)
2015 (not awarded)
2014 Lorne Perry & A. W. Bill Leggett – ST. LAMBERT – A TRAIN OF THOUGHT, C.R.H.A, Saint-Constant, QC, 2014
2013 (not awarded)
2012 William H. Baird – CANADIAN RAILWAY OBSERVATIONS  Website
2011 Stephen Low – ROCKY MOUNTAIN EXPRESS Film – Stephen Low Productions 2011
2010 ( not awarded )
2009 ( not awarded )
2008 ( not awarded )
2007 Stan J. Smaill & Sean Ropchan CLC FAIRBANKS YEARS DVD Chandos Television Productions 2007
2006 Stan J. Smaill & Sean Ropchan GREAT WESTERN CANADIAN STEAM DVD Chandos Television Productions 2006
2005 David Othen and Associates SITE WEB novascotiarailwayheritage.com : The Nova Scotia Railway Heritage Society 2005
2004 Stan J. Smaill & Sean Ropchan 2816 EAST – THE RETURN OF DOMINION’S DREAM VHS Chandos Television Productions 2004

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