Organization
Objects
Objects: “To advance education by developing and conducting the Canadian Classroom On Rails program that consists of intensive leadership training in Canadian geography, history, culture and citizenship for youth and young adults …” (from our Articles of Incorporation as amended in 2016)
We’re doing this by
- Seasonal Rail trips: kanata day, spring (May 24) weekend, Thanksgiving – sharing the kanata experience through a variety of activities that then become available online (going longer and farther afield – see Outlook
- Activities/presentations in stationary railcars (the Chinook Centre for Arts and Education) currently in Cranbrook BC where we’ve been conducting demo classes as railcars are being refitted; coming to Edmonton AB in 2027
- Classroom On Rails Experience online as we build a resource bank for school classes, teachers, students and homeschool families, where they access the rail experience and connect through a moderated live chat line
Our age range: preschool to post-secondary as you’ll see in clips of our activities.
Outlook
Outlook – over the next five years we aim to expand in each of these areas:
- Rail trips in 2025: We’re looking at a day charter on Alberta Prairie Railway Heritage weekend (Aug 1-4) and an overnight VIA trip Remembrance Day weekend (Nov 8-11) to the Diefenbaker Centre, Duck Lake and Batoche, SK.
- As our classroom (buffet-baggage) and gym (mail-express) cars are refitted in Cranbrook, we’ll be opening these to local visits/programs; we’re also looking for a suitable temporary venue in Edmonton before the cars arrive here.
- As our resources and outreach grow cross-country, we’ll be increasing our CCOR Experience on line with weekly presentations with live participation by school classes, homeschoolers and invited visitors.
- By 2031 we envisage the Chinook Centre for Arts & Restorative Education (CCARE) Edmonton open yr-round and a cross-country student trip ending in Ottawa July 1 As our Chinook Centre develops, our sleeping car/study hall will serve as a sleeper for Parallel // Streams overnight Indigenous//non-Indigenous youth programming.
Oversight
The Canadian Classroom On Rails Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors elected annually at a meeting of members held in the first one-third of the calendar year (also the fiscal year). Our current directors represent a spread from Vancouver Island to Nova Scotia. Our headquarters is in Edmonton, Alberta.
We’ll be changing our articles of incorporation in 2025 to allow nine directors with overlapping three year terms. Besides serving on the Board, each Director will sit on one of four standing committee: (a) Program (Culture and Education), (b) Finance and funding, (c) Operations and Mechanical and (d) Outreach.
Current Directors (December 2024)
Olive Bliss
(Nanaimo BC)
- Grew up High River AB; restauranteur parents; familiar with Danielle Smith railcar restaurant at former CP Station
- Two years towards BFA degree U of A, specializing in weaving; interrupted by COVID; enrolled/graduated in esthetics, MC College
- Attended May 2024 CCOR trip and expressed interest in CCOR activities
- Managing café on Vancouver Island; artist, organizer and lifelong learner
C.J. (Chris) Donville
(Duncan, BC)
- Born in Toronto, moved to Edmonton/Regina/Red Deer/Calgary 1970 – 91
- Bachelor of Arts, Political Science at the University of Calgary, 1983 – 87
- Journalist, Calgary Herald, Globe and Mail, Bloomberg News 1987 – 2015
- Railway and history enthusiast, ghost writer and editor 2015 – present
Jane Hambly
(Calgary, AB)
- 30 years in early childhood education with Calgary Board of Education and private enterprise
- Born into a small business family and married into an entrepreneurial one
- Travelled/worked in tourism (Jasper) in student years; active in community/ youth work, familiar with Alberta Prairie Rail (Big Valley family connection)
- Buoyant disposition; discerning of individual and organizational character
Ian Hinchcliffe, Sub-Lt., RCN
(Hubley, NS)
- Born to a Halifax Royal CDN Navy family, then Esquimalt BC & Swan River MB
- Degree in Economics/Communications at University of Calgary; worked as Legislative Ass’t for Calgary MP, drafting Reform White Paper on Defense
- With RCN on Pacific Coast (sailing from Mexico to Alaska), later on-board security attendant of privately owned railcar at museum near Namao, AB
- CCOR’s farthest east director (15 min. from Halifax) where he and spouse Tatiana are renovating a house by a lake and enjoying “this land of ours”
David Watts
(Edmonton, AB)
- Born Weyburn SK, grew up Calgary, lived in BC, QC, ON. NB & UK; visited all provinces/territories as part of lifelong study of Canada
- BA (PoliSci/Hist), BEd (Social Studies/Early Childhood) MEd (History); 1 yr. at Faculté St-Jean (U of A); audited course at Université de Montréal
- 26 yr teaching preschool-post-2ndary incl 4 yr evaluating education students senior practicum (certificate qualification) has written curriculum, 3 awards
- Written 3 books, 160 published articles including op-ed pieces PostMedia; most frequent contributor to CBC Radio One Commentary 1990-2006
- 20 yr passenger rail restoration/tours; 19 yr provincial public servant
Opportunities
Interested persons can serve as a:
- volunteer (set/cleanup, learning ass’t ) at one of our trips/events
- part of a clerical & crafts corps for the preparation of materials
- liaison online or in-person to others with a potential interest
- member on one of the four standing committees (see “Oversight” above)
For more information on opportunities with Canadian Classroom on Rails, CONTACT US!
Organization Archives
The following are links to Past Trips, Invitations, and Programs.
Invitation to Remembrance Day 2024 (Postponed to 2025)
