The Samuel Cunard Prize—Friend-Raising

In 2015 we partnered with Cunard and the Maritime Museum to create the Samuel Cunard Prize for Vision, Courage and Creativity, which we award each year to an extraordinary individual who demonstrates the world-changing vision, courage and creativity exemplified by Samuel Cunard throughout his life.

The Cunard Prize Luncheon and award ceremony has taken place each year on board Queen Mary 2, during one of her visits to Halifax. It is a major friend-raising event for the Maritime Museum and our Foundation. Since 2015, the Cunard Prize has been awarded to Jim Irving, John Risley, the Right Honourable Paul Martin, Ken Rowe and Zita Cobb.

In 2018, we created a new award for a mid-career ocean entrepreneur, the Samuel Cunard Innovative Spirit Award, to honour an extraordinary individual who, early in their career, has demonstrated the innovative spirit exemplified by Samuel Cunard throughout his life. Paul Yeatman was the inaugural recipient and in 2019 the Innovative Spirit Award went to Sandra Greer.

Unfortunately, due to the pandemic the 2020 Samuel Cunard Prize event has been postponed until 2021. We will rise again.

Former Prime Minister Paul Martin Accepts Cunard Prize

Samuel Cunard…

…was a visionary and entrepreneur extraordinaire. Born and raised in Halifax, he had world-changing dreams which he coupled with the courage to make those dreams real. He is one of our community’s true heroes.