The Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society’s Publications Awards are given out for the best publications dealing with the history of Northwestern Ontario.
They fall into six categories:
- M. Elizabeth Arthur Award: full-length scholarly works
- J.P. Bertrand Award: scholarly articles
- Gertrude H. Dyke Award: full-length popular works
- George B. Macgillivray Award: popular articles
- Ernest R. Zimmermann: First Publication Award
- Innovative Media Award for the History of Northwestern Ontario: non-traditional and emerging public history formats
To learn more about the individuals these awards and who they are named after, click here.
A great many excellent books and articles, both popular and scholarly, are written about the history of our region each year, yet many of their authors struggle for recognition. These awards are intended to help publicize such works, to recognize the excellence of local writers, and to encourage new authors to write about our history. The awards are made by independent panels of judges in each category.
Future Awards
Nominations are open for the next Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society Publications Awards program. Books and articles must have been published within the past three years to qualify.
Nominations can be submitted to: [email protected] or 425 Donald Street East, Thunder Bay, Ont. P7E 5V1
Previous Award Winners
Named Award Background information
- M. Elizabeth Arthur Award: full-length scholarly works
- Dr. Elizabeth Arthur had a profound influence in our region. First teaching at Port Arthur Collegiate Institute and later becoming a founding member of the Department of History at Lakehead University. She well-respected historian nationally, including serving on the Council of the Champlain Society – which also published her monumental book Thunder Bay District, 1821-1892. Arthur served on the Board of the Society and, unacknowledged, steered the revived Papers & Records during the 1970s.
- J.P. Bertrand Award: scholarly articles
- Throughout his life, Joseph Placide Theodore Bertrand had a passion for history. Following his arrival at the Lakehead in 1900, he established himself through numerous talks, articles, and books as a leading expert on our region’s history. He was heavily involved in the Society in the 1940s and 1950s, including as board member. Bertrand’s publications include the book Highway of Destiny, perhaps the first serious analysis of the history Northwestern Ontario, and Timber Wolves, which the Society published in 1997.
- Gertrude H. Dyke Award: full-length popular works
- Gertrude Dyke was a prominent citizen of Port Arthur and had a great interest in local history. She published three historic booklets: “Historic Lakehead”, “Historic Silver Islet”, and “Historic Stories”.
- George B. Macgillivray Award: popular articles
- This award is named after long-time supporter of the Society, Colonel George B. Macgillivray. Commander of the Macgillivray Clan (1989-1994) and long-time publisher of what became the Chronicle-Journal newspaper. Macgillivray was a prolific author of articles focused on the history of our region and on Clan Macgillivray.
- Ernest R. Zimmermann: First Publication Award
- From his arrival to the Lakehead in 1967 to take up a position in the Department of History at Lakehead University, Dr. Ernest R Zimmermann was a force to be recognized in the region. During his career he served as chair of the Department of History (1977-1978), and as Dean of Arts (1978-1983). Ernest served on the City’s Local Architectural Conservation Authority Committee (now HAC), the executive of The Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, and what was then known as the National Exhibition Centre for Indian Art (Thunder Bay Art Gallery). An expert on German and Russian history, his work later in life focus on the Prisoner of War Experience in Canada.
- This award is the Society’s only cash award, paid through an endowment established by the proceeds from the book The Little Third Reich on Lake Superior: A History of Canadian Internment Camp R.
- Innovative Media Award for the History of Northwestern Ontario
- The Innovative Media Award for the History of Northwestern Ontario recognizes outstanding works that interpret and present the history of Northwestern Ontario through innovative or non-traditional formats.
- Eligible works may include documentary films, podcasts, digital publications, websites, multimedia storytelling projects, graphic narratives, interactive media, or other emerging forms of public history communication. Works must demonstrate substantial historical content related to Northwestern Ontario and its communities, be publicly accessible, and be intended primarily for general audiences.
- Submissions will be assessed for the quality and depth of historical research, sound historical analysis and interpretation, effectiveness of presentation, accessibility, audience appeal, and the appropriate use of the chosen medium.
- Works must have been released or published within the previous three years. Self-published works and independent productions are eligible, provided they meet the award criteria.
- Live events, temporary programming, physical exhibitions, installations, and social media campaigns are not eligible unless they have been transformed into a stable, publicly accessible, reviewable publication or media product.
- Nominees must disclose whether artificial intelligence tools were used in the development of the work. Works are not eligible where generative artificial intelligence substantially created or replaced the human creator’s original historical interpretation or expressive content.
