Accomplishments Over Past Year

We started out the year with optimism, as we continued to implement our current Strategic Plan initiatives. However, much of that changed with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were hampered in our efforts to access our archives to work on them, to continue to broaden our transit industry contacts, and to hold charters and other events.

On a more positive note, and despite these challenges, at the AGM I was pleased to report that we have been able to achieve a number of accomplishments over the past year including:

• Excellent content in the Bulletin issues 105 to 108, which have been well-received. Special features included retrospective looks at the history leading up to the new light rail systems in Kitchener-Waterloo and Ottawa, as well as a farewell to Toronto’s Canadian Light Rail Vehicles. Thanks to Andrew Gold, Editor, and Adam Zhelka, Director, for their great work.
• Continued visibility and relevance of CTHF among its stakeholders through e-blast communications and our Facebook page. Thanks to retiring director Trevor Parkins-Sciberras for initiating the Facebook page and to Allen Dicion for his on-going role as webmaster.
• Successful sales of the 2019 Street Side Guide, published in September 2019. Thanks to Director Kevin Nicol for his superb efforts as Editor.
• Continued sales of the Tires and Wires book. Close to 700 copies have been sold.
  
• Completed the 2020 Member Survey. The 26% of members who responded overwhelmingly endorsed the Foundation’s progress over the four years since the last survey, with all feeling they are getting good or high value for their membership and a significant improvement in awareness of Foundation services and member impression of performance. Many impressive comments and suggestions will be incorporated into the new Strategic Plan planned for the coming year.
• Continued work on restoring Hamilton Street Railway 517, a GM TDH-4512, led by Director Peter Chatoff. Next up is to install the new tires and to finish repairs to the transmission along with other minor repairs.
• Completed an Operations Plan and Corporate Calendar under the guidance of our Strategic Advisor, Michael Roschlau. This will assist us with the on-going operations of the Foundation.
• Maintained a good financial position for CTHF, assisted by the successful results obtained from sales of the Tires and Wires book.

Focus for the Next Year

For the forthcoming year, we will focus on the following initiatives:

• Preparing a new Strategic Plan that will provide guidance to the Board over the next few years.
• Once we are able to have access, continuing our work on documenting and organizing our archives, leading to making those resources available in electronic form.
• Publication of the 2021 edition of the highly regarded Street Side Guide.
  
• We are planning to be involved in a significant book project, so watch out for a future announcement on this.
• We are working on a series of virtual events, which would include online presentations of historic subjects of interest to members. It is anticipated that the first of these will be announced before the end of this year.
• Continued emphasis on succession planning and identifying new Board members and volunteer resources through advertisements on our website and personal contact by your Executive.
• Meeting the challenge of maintaining our profile through the pandemic.
• Undertaking initiatives to increase both individual and industry membership.
• Working to ensure the future preservation of a number of historical vehicles (buses), now stored in various venues, by locating a permanent home where they can be displayed and viewed by the public.