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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.
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.
To a person for a significant contribution over a period of years.
To a person or a group of people, for an outstanding preservation or restoration activity in the Award year.
For an article published in CANADIAN RAIL or other Division newsletter (2023).
For an article published in any other periodical or magazine (2023).
For a book published in the Award year (2023) or the previous year (2022).
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 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.
2019 : Gordon Lightfoot, for its song “Canadian Railroad Trilogy”, CRHA National Treasure 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
