Paper ephemera from Langley Collection begins its journey from Baddeck, Cape Breton to Liverpool, UK. Halifax ship’s agency rep photographed with the boxed materials ready for transport to Halifax for loading aboard Queen Mary 2.

2019 marked the culmination of arrangements between Cunard Line and John G. Langley, Q.C., Chairman of the Cunard Steamship Society for the gifting of a large collection of paper ephemera from the Langley collection to Cunard Line for archiving at the Cunard Archives, University of Liverpool in England. The CSS Chairman and his wife were guests aboard Queen Mary 2 when it transported this historic collection from Halifax to Southampton in late July. The donor then spent a number of days with the archivist in the Cunard archive reviewing and cataloguing the materials which will now form a significant addition to the already substantial Cunard Archive at the University in Liverpool.

John G. Langley, Q.C. reviewing donated materials with archivist Beth Williams at Cunard Archives, University of Liverpool, England in August, 2019.

Zita Cobb, recipient of Fifth Annual Samuel Cunard Prize addressing the gathering in Queen’s Room aboard Queen Mary 2.

The flagship Queen Mary 2 was the setting in Halifax, Nova Scotia where a large group of dignitaries and invited guests gathered to celebrate the entrepreneurial genius of company founder and Haligonian, Samuel Cunard. The honouree for this year’s Samuel Cunard Prize for Vision, Courage and Creativity was Zita Cobb, Founder and CEO of Shorefast Foundation while the Samuel Cunard Innovative Spirit Award was presented to Sandra Greer, former President and CEO of Amirix Systems Inc.

This event, sponsored by the Canadian Maritime Heritage Foundation, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and Cunard Line is held annually aboard Queen Mary 2 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Participants in the 2019 Samuel Cunard Prize event. From the left: Captain Christopher Wells; Hon. Kelly Regan; John G. Langley, Q.C., Zita Cobb; Halifax Mayor Mike Savage; Sandra Greer; Hon. Bernadette Jordan; Wayne Myles; John Young, Q.C., and John Risley.

Aerial view of Queen Elizabeth, followed by Queen Mary 2 treating Haligonians to an historic sail-away from Halifax harbour July 26, 2019.

July 26, 2019 was a special day in Halifax, the ancestral home of Cunard Line. Here, for the first time two Cunard Queens – the flagship Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Elizabeth – met and berthed end to end at Pier 21. The historic occasion was commemorated by a special ‘sail away’ during which, led by harbour mascot Theodore Tugboat, first Queen Elizabeth, followed by Queen Mary 2 performed a 90 minute circle around the harbour accompanied by an Irving tug which added to the spectacle with her water cannon.

Cunard Line flagship Queen Mary 2 following Queen Elizabeth out of Halifax harbour in an historic meeting of the two Queens in Halifax, July 26, 2019.

Some of the participants in the Fourth Annual Samuel Cunard Prize event. From the left John Hennigar-Shuh, Paul Yetman, Kenneth C. Rowe and John Young, Q.C.

The Fourth Annual Samuel Cunard Prize for Vision, Courage and Creativity had a new format when held aboard Queen Mary 2 in Halifax, Nova Scotia October 5, 2018.

The Samuel Cunard Prize acknowledges an extraordinary individual who demonstrates the qualities exemplified by Cunard throughout his life. This year’s honoree was Kenneth C. Rowe, Founder and Chairman of IMP group International Inc., a Halifax- based company focused on global, sustainable growth, serving customers across diverse sectors such as aerospace and defense, aviation, healthcare, IT, hospitality and property management.

CSS Chairman John G. Langley, Q.C. and his wife Judith photographed with Jackie Chase, Director, Public Relations, Cunard Line in Grand Lobby of Queen Mary 2 following Samuel Cunard Prize event.

This year and for the first time a second award was added. The Cunard Innovative Spirit Award was created to honour an extraordinary individual who, early in their career has demonstrated the innovative spirit exemplified by Cunard throughout his life. This year’s inaugural recipient was Paul Yetman, President of GeoSpectrum Technologies, a Dartmouth, Nova Scotia-based developer and supplier of innovative marine acoustic hardware and systems.

Queen Mary 2 escorted by Canadian naval vessel (with CSS Acadia in foreground) performing salute to Canada’s 150th birthday off the end of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic wharves.

In 1867 confederation marked the birth of Canada as a nation. In recognition of this occasion the Queen Mary 2, flagship of Cunard line performed a special sailaway from Halifax harbour August 10, 2017. On a beautiful late afternoon passengers lined the rails of the ship while thousands gathered on the waterfront to watch QM2 perform a nautical salute to Canada when she slowly made her way up the harbour, turned and dipped her flag opposite the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, not far from the former Cunard wharves and home port to RMS Britannia, Cunard’s first transatlantic liner.

Queen Mary 2 bellhops proudly bookend the Samuel Cunard prize crafted by Nova Scotian Crystal in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Right Honourable Paul Martin with the 2017 Samuel Cunard prize award

The Queen Mary 2 was the venue in Halifax, Nova Scotia August 10, 2017 for a reception and luncheon to celebrate the third annual Samuel Cunard prize for vision, courage and creativity. Hosted by the Canadian Maritime Heritage Foundation and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, this year’s recipient was the Right Honourable Paul Martin P.C., C.C., Twenty-first Prime Minister of Canada and former chairman and CEO of CSL group Inc. (Canada Steamship Lines). Following the presentation reception in the magnificent Queens room, 250 dignitaries and invited guests enjoyed superb Cunard cuisine in the ship’s Britannia restaurant.

Following upon the success of last year’s inaugural event, the QM2 was once again the scene for honouring this year’s recipient, entrepreneur John Risley with the Samuel Cunard Prize for ‘vision, courage and creativity’.

Left: Author addressing dignitaries and guests in Queen’s Room aboard QM2 second Annual Samuel Cunard Prize event