E XNewsP O R A I L Together, let us put our shoulders to the wheel! N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5 CRHA President's Report 2014–2015 Speech pronounced during the 82nd annual meeting of the members of the Canadian Railroad Historical Association (CRHA) on Exporail News - September 19, 2015 CRHA Communications As we approach the 150th anniversary of the Published by the Canadian Railroad Confederation of Canada in 2017, I believe it Historical Association (CRHA) is important for the CRHA to remind 110 Saint Pierre St. Canadians of the role railways played in this Saint Constant, Quebec major event. British railway technology was Canada J5A 1G7 introduced to Lower Canada in 1836, with Tel: 450-638-1522 the opening of the Champlain & St. Lawrence Fax: 450-638-1563 Rail Road, financed by the Molson family. In Exporail E-mail [email protected] 1852, construction began on the Grand Trunk Web site www.exporail.org Railway, which, by 1859, stretched from CRHA Secretary: [email protected] Rivière-du-Loup to Sarnia. It was then the ISSN 1493-6089 longest railway in the world, providing fast and inexpensive transportation of goods and Membership in the CRHA includes a subscription to Canadian Rail. people over long distances, leading to the birth of a great nation. Shortly thereafter, in Editor: Marie-Claude Reid 1867, the new federation of Canada was Layout: Gary McMinn formed. The British North America Act Contributors : Marie-Claude Reid C. Stephen Cheasley creating Canada provided for a railway to be built by the new country of Canada, from the C. Stephen Cheasley, President of the Translation & Services Edition C a n a d i a n R a i l r o a d H i s t o r i c a l Revision: Guy Connolly St. Lawrence River to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Association / Exporail Coordinator: Bruno Cordellier This was the Intercolonial Railway of Canada, Membership Gérald Bouchard completed in 1876, which connected to the processing : Grand Trunk Railway. Four years later, it was Disponible en français agreed, as a condition of the entry of British Columbia into the Canadian Confederation, that a railway to the Pacific Ocean would be built. This was accomplished with the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885. It took the building of three major railways over 33 years to finally knit Canada together as a great new country! This was another active year for your Association. Members and staff carried out much original research into Canada's railways, which was published in Canadian Rail and the publications of the CRHA Divisions, The Sandhouse, Kingston Rail, The Turnout, Bulletin officiel, The Whistle Post and the Order Board. The Niagara Division produced a calendar and used the proceeds of its sale to research and erect historical plaques. Exporail curator Jean-Paul Viaud carried out extensive research for the excellent exhibition, Building the Road to Victory, Canadian Railway Troops, Forgotten Heroes. We published Lorne Perry's well-received new book, St. Lambert, A Train of Thought, in both English and French. As in the past, we were pleased to recognize preservation and recording of artifacts of historical value to Canada's railway heritage by awarding six Annual Awards. A detailed Newsletter Vol. 14 Number 1 November 2015 1 We a g a i n m a d e i m p r o v e m e n t s i n o u r communications to members and the public. Thanks to member Stephen Wray, four issues of CRHA Communications were sent to members, either by e-mail or in hard copy. I encourage all members to send in their e-mail addresses to facilitate delivery of this newsletter and other important information. The Exporail Facebook site was further improved and provided timely information about activities at Exporail. I recommend that you follow the Exporail Facebook page to keep up to date. Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum, owned and operated by the CRHA, had another good year. This will be reported on by the Executive Lorne Perry's Book, St. Lambert, A Director of the CRHA. Train of Thought We continued last year to make efforts to have the Federal Government carry out the House of description of each Award is to be included for Commons resolution of February 27, 2007, to publication in the nex t issue of C R H A make Exporail Canada's national railway museum. Communications and will be posted on the These efforts will be continued this year. Exporail website. I would like to thank our members, staff and Membership in the Association grew during the volunteers for their support and the excellent last year, but we still need to encourage new work they do on behalf of the CRHA. I would also membership. like to thank all of the individuals, companies, Thanks to some unexpected revenues and very donors and governments who continue to generous donations from members of the CRHA, support the CRHA each year. we ended the last fiscal year with a financial C. Stephen Cheasley, surplus, which more than erased the total of all of President, Canadian Railroad Historical the small deficits of the previous three years. Association Annual Report of the Executive Director for 2014–2015 Thanks to the efforts of the entire Exporail team (board of directors, staff and volunteers), many projects and actions were brought to fruition last year. First of all, our program was enhanced by several new additions, and family-centred activities were once again a resounding success. It was also the year that saw the much-heralded return of the Dominion of Canada locomotive, fully restored and repainted in its original Garter Blue by a team at the National Railway Museum in York, England. The logistics for the return voyage, as well as the railway movements and manoeuvres at the Exporail site, all went well. Now on display in the Grand Gallery of the Angus Pavilion for visitors to Exporail to admire in all her splendour, this Marie-Claude Reid, beautifully restored locomotive has definitely Executive Director of Exporail struck a chord with the public. 2 Vol. 14 Number 1 November 2015 Newsletter Canadian National donated diesel-electric Troops, Forgotten Heroes. The exploits of soldiers shunting locomotive CN 7300 to Exporail. Fully in the Canadian Railway Troops, recognized for operational, and renumbered CN 1382 following their expertise and courage, were highlighted restoration to its original colour scheme, this through period posters; uniforms; exceptional locomotive is used to move rolling stock in the archive documents; models; typical tools, preparation of new exhibits, make railway instruments and equipment; as well as films shot demonstrations, and pull the passenger train at the European front. taking visitors on a ride through the grounds on Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum, in Sunday afternoons. collaboration with Operation Lifesaver and CN, A new temporary exhibition was created: announced the preparation of a permanent Building the Road to Victory, Canadian Railway exhibition on railway safety. Intended for a family audience, the exhibition is currently being designed. Volunteers have been working hard to renovate rolling stock: the interior of passenger car CN 5064 has been completely refinished, and suppliers are being contacted so that the renovation of self-propelled rail car CN 15824 can be completed. Other projects and activities carried out last year include: • New lighting in the Model Train Room for better viewing of the two layouts in operation • Shooting of the film Chasse-Galerie [The Flying Canoe] The new lighting in the Model Train Room Adoption of new by-laws to comply with the Canada Not-For-Profit Corporations Act that came into effect on September 20, 2014 Some members of the team involved in the return of the D o m i n i o n o f C a n a d a t o Exporail along with, from left to right : David Morgan-Kirby, volunteer, Marie-Claude Reid, Executive Director, Peter Cu n n i n g h a m , vo l u n te e r, Andrew Macdougall, volunteer, Dave Barnard, volunteer, Joe Fiorito, volunteer, Charles De Jean, volunteer, John Godfrey, volunteer, Andrew Goodman, General Manager of Moveright International, Nadine Cloutier, Director of Operations, C. Stephen Cheasley, President of the CRHA and Exporail, Denis Blanchette, volunteer, Jean- Paul Viaud, curator, Joseph- Jean Pâques, volunteer. Newsletter Vol. 14 Number 1 November 2015 3 Annual attendance Despite a slight 2% decrease in attendance from a year earlier, 2014–2015 was a good year. A total of 64,760 individuals came to Exporail (54,039 visitors and 10,721 people using our rental spaces), compared with 70,917 a year earlier (55,181 guests and 15,736 rental space users). This decrease was also reflected in admission income. The number of guests includes 167 group visits, accounting for 8,622 people. Our annual Exporail passes were very popular once again, with more than 700 sold last year. The Association has 876 members. Volunteers working for the Association member services actively recruited new members at exhibitions and model train fairs. CN 1382 is used for pulling the passenger train which gives visitors a pleasant ride on Sunday afternoons. Funding The partnership agreement with the City of Saint- permanent exhibition on railway safety in Constant was extended and a new agreement collaboration with Operation Lifesaver. This negotiated with the City of Delson. Their financial exhibition is to have three components displayed at support for our operations and granting of a tax three different locations around the site: an exemption is greatly appreciated. immersive experience on the mezzanine, a fresco Additional operational funding from the Ministry of displayed in the entrance hall and a presentation Culture and Communications (MCCQ) was renewed.