Background
As a volunteer-driven organization the RASC relies heavily upon the talents and contributions of its members to deliver programs and services. The Service Award was instituted in 1959 to recognize the contributions of members who, at either the National or Centre levels, have made a significant contribution to the life and vitality of the Society. The award is a bronze medal engraved with the winner's name and year of presentation. (See "Establishment of the Service Award of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada," JRASC 56, 131.)
The Service Award is a major award of the Society given to a member in recognition of outstanding service, rendered over an extended period of time, where such service has had a major impact on the work of the Society and/or of a Centre of the Society. The Award is given only by resolution of the Board of Directors, on recommendation of the Awards Committee. The Award shall be presented at the Society's General Assembly. The recipient will be offered reimbursement for two nights' accommodation and up to two banquet tickets, if he or she travels to the GA to receive the award.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Award, a recipient must
- Be a member in good standing (a Service Award may be made posthumously to a member who would otherwise have been eligible).
- Have rendered substantial service of a well-defined nature to the Society and/or a Centre over a period of at least ten years. Such service should have had a major, constructive impact and would involve a very substantial and continued commitment on the part of the nominee.
- Not have received a Service Award before.
Any two Society members may submit nominations for the award. Nominations should be sent to the Awards Committee chair by December 31. Use the fillable form below.
Note: A special Service Award was given to Col R.S. McLaughlin in 1965 in recognition of his munificence in funding and endowing the McLaughlin Planetarium in Toronto.
Recipients
Links to relevant JRASC pages are provided where available. Citations (PDF) are provided for those not published in JRASC.
2024
- Charles Ennis, Sunshine Coast
- Heather Laird, Calgary
- June MacDonald, New Brunswick
- James MacWilliam, Sunshine Coast
2023
- Chris Young, Halifax
- Quinn Smith, Halifax
- Sylvia Graca, Winnipeg
- John Marchese, Mississauga
- Emma MacPhee, New Brunswick
- Pierre Schierle, Regina
2022
- Robert Babb, St. John’s Centre
- Philip Downey, Niagara Centre
- Robert Lewis, Niagara Centre
- Ron Macnaughton, Toronto Centre
- Merlyn Melby, Saskatoon Centre
- Tenho Tuomi, Saskatoon Centre
- Barbara Wright, Saskatoon Centre
2021
- Diane Bell (Victoria Centre)
- Andrew Bennett (Okanagan Centre)
- Zoltan Boda (Okanagan Centre)
- Darrell Chatfield (Saskatoon Centre)
- Paul Delaney (Toronto Centre)
- Ellen Dickson (Saskatoon Centre)
- Leslie (Les) Dickson (Saskatoon Centre)
- Blair MacDonald (Halifax Centre)
- Ronald (Ron) Waldron (Saskatoon Centre)
- Ian Wheelband (Toronto Centre)
2020 - View Citation
- Dennis Krause (Okanagan Centre)
- Steve Holmes (Kitchener-Waterloo Centre)
1959
- E.J.A. Kennedy* (National Secretary)
- J.H. Horning* (National Treasurer)
*Deceased.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 Service Award fillable form | 1.26 MB |