Ted Wickson was posthumously awarded the William G. Ross Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 CUTA Awards Ceremony.

Edward A. (Ted) Wickson dedicated his life to documenting public transit in Canada and advancing the historical knowledge of transit systems. He joined the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in 1966, where he held various positions in marketing, public relations, and graphic support. As the official photographer, historian, and corporate archivist, he curated the TTC’s extensive collection of

historical photographs and organized its archival holdings. Ted also traveled extensively to document developments at transit systems across Canada, with plans to donate his collection to museums in Quebec and Ontario for public access.

During his 31 years at the TTC, Ted advocated for preserving historical records, emphasizing their future value. He successfully moved the TTC’s historical records to the City of Toronto Archives, where he trained as an archivist and provided reference services for public transit researchers. His contributions were pivotal to the 2021 TTC Centennial celebration and the publication of “A Century of Moving Toronto: 1921-2021,” for which he was co-author and contributing photographer.

Ted also authored “Reflections of Toronto Harbour: 200 Years of Port Activity and Waterfront Development” and contributed to “A Century of Moving Canada: Public Transit 1904-2004,” published by CUTA. His name became synonymous with public transit heritage, and he worked closely with CUTA and the Centennial Task Force.

As a founding director of the Canadian Transit Heritage Foundation, Ted helped develop an archives policy now being established as an industry resource. After retiring, he documented the history of Anglican residential schools, culminating in his 2008 publication “Anglican Indian Residential Schools: 1820-1970.”

Sadly, Ted passed away on January 21st, 2024. Colleagues at the TTC remembered him for his encyclopedic knowledge of transit history and his support, emphasizing that his contributions were invaluable during significant events, including the Centennial celebrations.