Canadian Nautical Research Society

The objectives of the Society are:

• to promote nautical research in Canada
• to disseminate the results of such research
• and to encourage an awareness of Canada's maritime heritage

To those ends, the Society publishes a quarterly journal -- The Northern Mariner/Le Marin du nord -- and a quarterly newsletter -- Argonauta -- holds an annual conference, and makes several awards:

• the Jacques Cartier MA Prize in Maritime Affairs, to encourage graduate students at the Master's level
• the Gerry Panting Award, which is a bursary to a young scholar to attend the annual conference to present a paper, and
• annually awards The Keith Matthews Awards -- named in honour of the Society's first President -- to recognize outstanding publications in the field of nautical research.

Membership Information

Annual membership in the Canadian Nautical Research Society, including four issues of Argonauta and The Northern Mariner / le Marin du Nord is:

payable by cheque, money order, or credit card (VISA or Mastercard). Note that we cannot accept payment for membership via the Internet at this moment. The postal address is:

Interested parties may receive a printed copy of the Society's by-laws by applying in writing to the address above. Key points are as follows:

• the purpose of the Society is to promote in Canada the study of ships, shipping affairs, the men and women associated with them, and their relationship with the development of societies and maritime environments.
• to this end, the Society shall:
  • sponsor interdisciplinary nautical research among members by organizing meetings, arranging for the exchange of information, co-operating with other groups, museums, universities, schools and interested persons;
  • publish a quarterly newsletter reporting developments in the field of nautical research and containing original articles, notes and transcripts of documents;
  • publish a Canadian journal of nautical research;
  • offer awards recognizing merit of articles and books published on maritime subjects;
  • offer an award promoting new scholarship;
  • offer an award for merit in special recognition excellence in Canadian nautical research applicable to individuals or institutions, or for an extraordinary contribution to the Society
• the Society is non-sectarian, non-racial and non-political, and shall not have any religious, racial or political affiliation.
• the Society is a non-profit organization and shall be carried on without the purpose of pecuniary gain for its members, councillors or officers. Any profits or accretions to the Society shall be used solely for the support of the objectives of the Society. Officers and Councillors shall receive no renumeration for their services.
• every person and institution supporting the aims of the Society is eligible to become a Member.
• the Annual General Meeting of the Members of the Society shall be held at a time and place to be determined by the Council, normally between the end of April and the Beginning of September. Any two consecutive Annual General Meetings shall not be more than fifteen months apart. At every Annual General Meeting, in addition to any other business that may be transacted, the financial statement and report of the auditor or reviewer shall be presented.

Presidents of the CNRS

The Canadian Society for the Promotion of Nautical Research was formed at a meeting held at the University of Ottawa on 10 June 1984. Professor Keith Matthews of the Memorial University of Newfoundland was in the chair, and became the first president. He died early in 1984. On 25 October 1984 the society was incorporated under federal statute as the Canadian Nautical Research Society.

• 1982 - 1984 Professor Keith Matthews, Memorial University of Newfoundland
• 1984 - 1987 Professor Gerald Panting, Memorial University of Newfoundland
• 1987 - 1990 Professor Barry Gough, Wilfrid Laurier University
• 1990 - 1993 Dr W.A.B. Douglas, Directorate of History, Department of National Defence
• 1993 - 1996 Dr Faye Kert, Department of Health and Welfare
• 1996 - 1999 Mr G. Edward Reed, Bank of Canada
• 1999 - 2002 Dr William Glover, Kingston, Ontario
• 2002 - 2005 Professor James Pritchard, Professor Emeritus, Queen's University
• 2005 - Dr Richard Gimblett, Ottawa, Ontario