CSX / NS
CSX and NS will each donate $100,000 to the American Red Cross in support of its multi-state relief and recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene.
Their contributions will support the wide range of assistance under way, including working with community and government agencies to assess the damage and support emergency needs. The American Red Cross is providing safe shelter, food and health services to families who lost their homes and belongings.
Additionally, CSX is matching dollar for dollar donations that company employees make to the American Red Cross. NS is also encouraging its employees to contribute, matching donations two-to-one, and the railroad’s Employee Disaster Relief Program is providing impacted employees with grants for qualified disaster-related losses and expenses.
“The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene has deeply impacted the communities where our employees, families, neighbors, and customers live and work,” CSX President and CEO Joe Hinrichs said. “Our contribution to the American Red Cross is a reflection of our dedication to ensuring that essential resources reach the people and communities that need them the most as they begin the long process of rebuilding and healing.”
“Our thoughts are with everyone navigating the aftermath of Helene, and our actions are in support of our employees, customers, and the communities where we all live and work,” said NS President and CEO Mark R. George, who took over leadership at the railroad earlier this month. “We are committed to supporting the American Red Cross in delivering immediate relief and long-term recovery. Our Employee Disaster Relief Program will provide financial aid directly to Norfolk Southern railroaders who have been affected. And we are working hard to get all impacted routes back online so we can provide access to those communities.”
CPKC
CPKC Police Constable Trevor Smith is this year’s winner of the Roger Cyr Award “for extraordinary contributions to rail safety in Canada,” Operation Lifesaver Canada reported via LinkedIn on Sept. 28. He was selected by committee from among several “incredible nominees,” according to the education organization, which is dedicated to preventing collisions at railway crossings and railway trespassing incidents in Canada and funded by the Railway Association of Canada and Transport Canada.
The Roger Cyr Award is named after the founder of Operation Lifesaver Canada, and recognizes the presenters, supporters and volunteers who contribute to promoting rail safety in Canada. It was first awarded in 1981 and is a joint initiative of Operation Lifesaver Canada, Railway Association of Canada and Transport Canada.
“The award is not only a chance to recognize the outstanding achievements of Operation Lifesaver’s partners and volunteers—it also offers us an opportunity to learn from each other,” according to Operation Lifesaver Canada, which noted that best practices collected during the nomination and award process are shared broadly with other stakeholders and partners.
The education organization said that Constable Smith’s career “is an inspiring example of community service and commitment to proactively saving lives,” which included joining ambassadors and volunteers for several events during Rail Safety Week 2024 in and around Montréal.
Constable Smith joined CPKC in January 2021, and has been working to keep Canadians safe for years as a railway police officer in Whistler B.C., Toronto and Montreal. “He’s known for his innovative and inclusive approach to community service and safety, and for his passion for helping educate Canadians about rail safety,” Operation Lifesaver Canada said. “Constable Smith has had a hand in many key initiatives over the past several years, such as the annual Community Coffee with a Cop in the Montreal area. During Rail Safety Week 2019, he worked with other law enforcement to launch the event, as a way to have one-on-one conversations with local residents about staying safe near tracks. Constable Smith also mentors young people through his work with the Beyond the Badge program. He offers guidance and fosters relationships between youth at risk and first responders by initiating discussions on the importance of rail safety.
“He’s also committed to saving lives by supporting suicide prevention efforts. Constable Smith has helped identify high-risk trespass areas and installed suicide prevention and no-trespass signs at eight locations along the CPKC Adirondack and Vaudreuil subdivisions. He has also been pivotal in emergency response coordination in the region, acting as the point of contact between local fire departments and CPKC’s hazmat team, demonstrating his commitment to emergency preparedness and safety in the community.
“We thank CPKC Police Constable Trevor Smith for his extraordinary contributions to rail safety in Canada.”
“Congratulations to Constable Trevor Smith for winning the 2023 Roger Cyr Award from Operation Lifesaver Canada,” CPKC wrote in a Sept. 28 LinkedIn post. “Constable Smith is a valued member of the CPKC Police Service, tirelessly working with agencies to amplify rail safety messaging and embody the values of Operation Lifesaver.”
Operation Lifesaver Canada will present the Roger Cyr Award to Smith at the Railway Association of Canada Safety Awards in Ottawa this November.
