Given on an occasional basis, The Robert R. Reid Medal for Lifetime Achievement in the Book Arts in Canada recognizes lifetime achievement or extraordinary contributions to the book arts in Canada.

Robert R. Reid
Medal

Double-sided commemorative coin with a profile of a person on one side and an owl with a shield on the other side.

“There is another element, personality, without which a book is lost. It results from the designer imparting something of himself—his love for fine books, his consequent sincerity of purpose, his grasp of the elementals of the printing craft—into his books.”

— Robert R. Reid’s introduction to his book Fraser Mines Vindicated (1949)

Recipients

This medal, donated by Dr Yosef Wosk, has been given to the following recipients who have usually marked the occasion by giving a talk, sometimes accompanied by the donation of a keepsake, a finely-printed page, for the attendees. The award winners to date are:

  • Lumiere Press

    Presented on October 24th, 2024 in Toronto.

  • Calligraphy

    Awarded in 2023, and presented on February 7, 2024 in Vancouver.

  • Bookbinding

    Presented on February 8, 2023 at McGill University Library in Montreal.

  • The Porcupine's Quill

    Presented in August 2020 in Erin, Ontario.

  • Typographer

    Presented April 4, 2019 in Vancouver.

  • La Papeterie Saint-Armand

    Presented June 2018 in Montreal.

  • Type Designer

    Presented June 6, 2016 in Vancouver.

  • The Barbarian Press

    Presented June 8, 2015 in Vancouver.

  • Aliquando Press

    Presented March 21, 2013 in Vancouver.

  • Coach House Books

    Presented March 30, 2012 in Vancouver.

  • Book Designer, Typographer

    Presented at a private ceremony in Montreal in the spring of 2011.

  • Type Designer

    Presented to the Rimmer family at the SFU Library/ Alcuin Society talk on October 21, 2011 in Vancouver.

  • Book Designer

    Presented on October 3, 2011 at the Arts and Letters Club in Toronto.

  • Book Designer & Typographer

    Robert received the inaugural honour at Reidfest on November 16, 2007; the medal was presented at the Alcuin Society AGM on June 13, 2011 in Vancouver.

Reidfest, during which Robert R. Reid was feted and presented with the first Robert R, Reid Award. June 2011, Vancouver BC.

The Medal

In 2011, Robert Chaplin completed a spectacular medallion for the award recipients. Hand-carved by Chaplin and then cast in bronze by his colleague Jess Sarber, the work was completed in an edition of 25 with five artist proofs.

About the award, Chaplin commented:

“Regarding the revelatory and concealing power of books, it seemed most fitting to encase each medal in this manner. Within this context the medal becomes a dimensional illustration, and since I’ve taken to publication as an act of contemporary art, it would be reasonable to assign an ISBN to this project. The book itself consists of an essay written by Yosef Wosk, regarding the value of a life spent in creation. The typography was designed electronically, burned into polymer plates, then printed and bound at Black Stone Press. A purpose built and published work to simultaneously protect and reveal a lifetime of excellence.”

On behalf of the Alcuin Society, we thank Robert Chaplin for the design of this award, and we trust it will be cherished by all who receive it.