This award was first presented in 1968, and is usually presented annually to one or more individuals in the PNR 7th Division who have made a significant contribution to the division and its membership. It is in appreciation of their unselfish devotion of time and effort to further the aims of the NMRA, the PNR, and the hobby of railway modelling through assistance and service for the benefit of all railway modellers within the division.
I thank those who supplied nominations for this year’s award. I have gratefully received letters supporting this year’s recipient.
This year’s recipient has been an active member of the division for over eight years. Among his many contributions to the 7th Division, some particular highlights come to mind:
This year’s recipient stepped up to serve as the 7th Division Superintendent in 2016 on the retirement of Russ Watson. From then until his retirement from the Superintendent’s position in November 2021 and his subsequent assumption of, and retirement from, the Assistant Superintendent’s position in late 2022 he accomplished much. Acting as a gentle elder statesman and motivator he has served the 7th Division actively and very well.
He was instrumental in transitioning the 7th Division’s annual meet from its traditional format as a combined public train show and modellers’ meet to the current format as the Railway Modellers Meet of British Columbia, an event dedicated to modelling, and the Vancouver Train Expo, a public train show. Both events have benefited from this reorganization and are better than they previously were. The transition required the creation of a separate legal entity, Lower Mainland Train Expo Society, and the sorting out of the financial relationship between the 7th Division and the new Society, to which John played a key role. John served actively on the Vancouver Train Expo Organizing Committee and the RMMBC committee as the liaison between the two organizations and the division. He continues to play an important role providing guidance to the Organizing Committee.
In his letter of nomination Tom Lundgren wrote: “As the Leader of Vancouver Train Expo I wish to express my great appreciation for John’s interest and active assistance in support of the public train show.”
John’s contributions are clearly consistent with the criteria for the Golden Spike Award.
I do hope you will all join me in thanking and acknowledging our past superintendent John Martin as the 2023 recipient of the Ross Heriot Memorial Golden Spike award.