If we’re going to realize our mission of getting to zero (zero rail-related incidents, zero deaths, zero injuries, zero crossing incidents, zero trespassings…), we need everyone to do their part. Rail safety, after all, is a shared responsibility.
And the latest winners of Operation Lifesaver Canada’s Roger Cyr Awards (2023) demonstrate a genuine commitment to bringing people together, driving results, and saving lives.
They are leaders in helping us ‘get to zero.’
Our individual winner is Cst. Trevor Smith of the CPKC Police Service. We first announced his win as part of Rail Safety Week 2024. He’s a humble guy, but his commitment and dedication are most deserving of recognition.
Our community winner is Ste.-Hélène-de-Bagot, Québec. This town of nearly 1700 people in central Québec’s Montérégie region has community leaders, elected and non-elected, who take their role in rail safety awareness super seriously. They are incredible partners to OL Canada, inviting our volunteers to youth camps, community events, and more to share rail-safe resources and messages.
Roger would be most proud. Named after OL Canada’s founder, the Roger Cyr Awards recognize individuals and communities that are doing outstanding work to prevent deaths and injuries at railway crossings and due to trespassing on railway property.
This year’s winners were selected by a nomination committee consisting of our provincial and regional committee co-leads. You can read more about why each winner was selected here.
(If you know someone whose contributions deserve to be recognized, keep watch for our next nomination period, which will open in June 2025.)
Kudos to all who work in communities across Canada, day in and day out, to further enhance rail safety and to help us ‘get to zero.’