2. DIRECTOR’S WELCOME
As National Director of Operation Lifesaver I am privileged to be able to share with you
the many successes we had in the past year in this Annual Report. Our mission to prevent
deaths and injuries related to highway-railway crossing and trespassing incidents does
not vary from year to year – just as the commitment of our partners and volunteers never
wavers. But times change and we must continually evaluate our messaging strategies,
target audiences and educational resources in order to keep our mission relevant.
This report outlines the results we achieved in 2011 – financially and in creating
awareness and holding events and activities. In looking back on 2011, it was another
Daniel (Dan) Di Tota
year of innovation. Much like 2010, we worked to adapt our messages to suit the various
National Director
new media formats that are emerging. You will see throughout this report that we have
made great strides in ensuring that our messages are web friendly.
In 2010 our Advisory Committee set a number of strategic priorities, one of which was to find a way to reach the
tough Grades 7 and 8 demographic. This age group is particularly difficult to reach because they assess risk
poorly, tend to tune-out authority and place a high importance on peer relationships. I am proud to say that in
2011 we met this challenge with the Off the Rails Contest, an interactive contest directed at youth aged 11 – 14.
You will be able to read more about this contest throughout the report.
With the passing of each year, it is important to recognize the incredible dedication and commitment of our
partners and volunteers. Without them, these achievements would not have been possible. I would also like
to take this time to thank our parent, the Railway Association of Canada, our partner, Transport Canada, our
Advisory Committee, OL Program Review Committee and the OL Provincial Committees. The dedication and
contribution of these groups is pivotal to our success.
Rail safety is only achievable if we work together, so we welcome your feedback. Please share with us your ideas
on how to make sure our rail safety message remains relevant and accessible to all Canadians.
Make safety your priority.
LOOK, LISTEN & LIVE
OPERATION LIFESAVER
ANNUAL REPORT 2011
Fiscal Year Start 01-01-11
Fiscal Year End 31-12-11
99 Bank Street, Suite 901
Ottawa, ON K1P 6B9
(613) 564-8100

3. ANNUAL REPORT 2011
MISSION AND PURPOSE 1
GOALS MET 1
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2
RESULTS 3
EVENTS 5
PROMOTION 7
ADVOCACY 9
FUTURE 11
ADVISORY COMMITTEE 13
Working to prevent collisions between trains and motor
vehicles, and trespassing incidents that lead to serious injury
or death - because even one incident is one too many!
f a cebook.com/oplifesaver
t w itter.com/oplifesaver
y o utube.com/OperationLifesaverCA

4. MISSION AND PURPOSE
Every year in Canada, approximately 300 collisions and trespassing incidents occur at highway-railway crossings
and along railway tracks, resulting in the death or serious injury of nearly 130 people. Virtually all of these
incidents could be avoided.
Operation Lifesaver is an international, not-for-profit education and awareness program dedicated to ending
preventable collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway/railway crossings and on railway rights-of-way through
education and in support of enforcement and engineering principles.
Our mandate is to eliminate the loss of life, injury and damage caused by preventable highway/railway crossing
collisions and train/pedestrian incidents.
We make over 500 presentations per year and work with the rail industry, government, police, unions, the media,
community organizations and the public to spread the word.
Our statistics show Operation Lifesaver education works. Over the past 30 years, we have helped reduce
crossing collisions by 78% and trespassing incidents by 54%.
GOALS FROM 2010 THAT WERE MET IN 2011
As in years past, we set a number of important goals to accomplish in 2011. Below you’ll find a number of tasks
we are proud to have achieved during the past year.
• In 2010 the Advisory Committee identified students in Grades 7 and 8 as a key target audience of the
program. In 2011, we focused on making students in these grades active participants in our rail-safety
message. In September 2011 we launched the Off the Rails Contest. This contest directly met this goal
and was extremely successful. Read more about it on page 7.
• 2011 saw another successful Rail Safety Week. We focused on strategically targeting local community
media for coverage of the various events held by our partners and stakeholders. We were very pleased
with the media coverage we received. Read more about 2011’s Rail Safety Week on page 5.
• At the end of 2010 we completely revised the Professional Drivers Materials that had been created as
part of Direction 2006. In 2011, these new materials were distributed through our network to driver’s
education organizations and relevant committees. The new items have proven popular and we receive
requests for them on an ongoing basis.
• The beta version of the computer based training program for Operation Lifesaver presenters was
completed in December of 2010. Throughout 2011 the program was in the testing phase. Feedback
has been positive and the program will go live in 2012.
• In the past we identified the need for standalone learning resources to be used in areas where we
do not have presenters available. In 2011 we developed professional quality standalone PowerPoint
materials to satisfy this requirement. Read more about these materials on page 8.
1 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

5. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited; as at December 31, 2011)
Revenues 2011 2010
Members’ Assessments $320,406 $333,818
Transport Canada Revenues $300,000 $300,000
Other Income $200 -
Totals $620,606 $633,818
Expenditures 2011 2010
Coordinators’ Meetings $7,468 $19,491
Education Vehicle - -
Film & Duplicating $4,069 $63,869
Grants & Donations $27,996 $35,873
(including Provincial Safety Leagues)
Office and Miscellaneous $33,258 $22,594
Presenter’s Guides - -
Printing and Supplies $41,181 $81,270
Publicity $46,141 $14,814
Salaries, Benefits & Contracted Services $416,272 $352,049
Travel $44,221 $43,856
Translation - -
Totals $620,606 $633,818
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 2

6. RESULTS
ACCIDENTS
826 826
Trespassing Accidents
Trespassing Accidents
763
708
Crossing Accidents
Crossing Accidents
606
590
472
386
354 365
262 270
236
177 180 169
118 109 105 112
86 79 83 81 67
0
1980 1981 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2011
(Source: Transpor t a t i o n S a f e t y B o a r d o f C a n a d a )
TOTAL ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS
(January 1 to Dec e m b e r 3 1 , 2 0 11 )
Active
Province Volunteers
Totals
Year-over-year we continue to see
Alberta 5 a decline in both crossing and
British Columbia 18 tresspassing incidents thanks in part
Manitoba 8 to the dedication of our partners,
New Brunswick 17 staff, and volunteers. Definitely a
Newfoundland 4 trend worth repeating!
Nova Scotia 7
Ontario 54
Quebec 48
Saskatchewan 1
Totals 162
3 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

7. RESULTS
PRESENTATIONS BY PROVINCE
(January 1 to Dec e m b e r 3 1 , 2 0 0 8 - 2 0 11 )
560
560
504
504
448
448
392
392
336
336
280
280
224
224
168
168
112
112
56
56
0
0
BC (54) AB (28) SK (1) MB (109) ON (133) QC (102) NB (52) NS (4) NL (55)
BC AB SK MB ON QC NB NS NL
2008 2009 2010 2011
2008 2009 2010 2011 (actual count shown in brackets by Province)
TOTAL OL PRESENTATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
2,000
(January 1 to Dec e m b e r 3 1 , 2 0 0 4 - 2 0 11 )
2,000
1,750 1,643
1,750 1,643 1,568
1,533 1,568
1,463 1,533 1,446
1,500 1,463 1,446 1,381
1,500 1,337 1,381
1,337
1,250
1,250
1,000
1,000
750 667 693 693
750 667 596 561
596 561 538
538
500 371
500 316 371
316
250 199 199
250 110
110
0
0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Presentations Notes: 2009 figures include Race Against Drug Program stats (Activities).
Presentations
Activities
Activities
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 4

8. EVENTS
Remaining active in our communities
With a message as important as rail safety, it’s imperative that we are actively promoting it in communities
across Canada. The only way to spread our message is by remaining in the forefront of the public’s mind.
Here are a few ways that Operation Lifesaver, our partners, volunteers and a number of provincial
committees made sure that rail safety was on the mind of Canadians.
RAIL SAFETY WEEK SIMULTANEOUS CROSSING BLITZES
May 2 - 8, 2011 Canada-wide May 2, 2011 Grand Bay-Westfield, New Brunswick
During Rail Safety Week 2011, Operation Lifesaver’s The New Brunswick Provincial Committee, in
partners and volunteers held over 300 events across conjunction with the RCMP, conducted two
the country including: school presentations, mock simultaneous crossing blitzes at the Ferry Road/
railway-crossing collisions, safety blitzes at stations, Nerepis Road and River Valley Drive crossings
crossing blitzes, rail safety kiosks, public service in Grand Bay-Westfield to promote the Operation
announcements and traffic enforcement blitzes. We Lifesaver message. These two one-hour blitzes
focused on strategically targeting local community provided participants with the opportunity to distribute
media for coverage of these events. As a result, Operation Lifesaver materials to approximately 600
we received a great deal of media attention, with drivers.
news stories coming out of Newfoundland, Nova
Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba,
Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. PRESENTATION AT POLICE WEEK
May 12 & 13, 2011 Sydney, Nova Scotia
MANITOBA OPERATION LIFESAVER On behalf of the Nova Scotia Provincial Committee,
PROVINCIAL COMMITTEE: RE-ESTABLISHED members Debbie Young and Tom Ripley took part in
Police Week. The pair set up a booth that included:
February 2011 Winnipeg, Manitoba
Operation Lifesaver videos, the Operation Lifesaver
In February 2011 the Manitoba Provincial Committee safety display unit, several publications and Operation
was re-established. The new committee consists of Lifesaver safety materials. Over 800 school-aged
representatives from Via Rail, CN Police, Transport children and adults attended this event.
Canada, Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, Central
Manitoba Railway Inc. and Manitoba Infrastructure
and Transportation. The committee participated MOCK COLLISION
in last year’s Rail Safety Week by setting up an May 4, 2011 Labrador City, Newfoundland
information booth at the VIA Rail Station and holding
During Rail Safety Week 2011, a mock collision was
a trespassing blitz.
held at a major level crossing in Labrador City. High
school students participated as victims and mining
company and municipal responders participated in the
rescue and recovery. Public information pamphlets
were distributed to motorists at the mock disaster
scene. A debriefing session was held following the
re-enactment and Safety Services Newfoundland
Labrador President, Len LeRiche, provided a number
of observations and recommendations for future
events. This activity received media coverage on
both radio and TV and in print.
5 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

9. EVENTS
THE MOTORIZED RECREATIONAL SPORTS OPERATION LIFESAVER
SHOW (SALON DES SPORTS RÉCRÉATIFS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
MOTORISÉS DE QUÉBEC) October 4 - 5, 2011 Ottawa, Ontario
October 14 - 16, 2011 Québec City, Québec In 2011, the decision was made to cancel the Operation
In 2011, the Quebec Provincial Committee committed Lifesaver Annual Conference as attendance has been
to spreading the Operation Lifesaver rail safety steadily diminishing over the past few years. Instead,
message to all terrain vehicle and recreational an Annual General Meeting has been established
vehicle operators and enthusiasts at conferences where members of the Advisory Committee, the
and tradeshows. The committee set up a booth Program Review Committee and representatives from
with the Operation Lifesaver safety display unit active OL provincial committees will be able to meet
at The Motorized Recreational Sports Show. This to discuss the direction of the program, set priorities
annual tradeshow features everything related to for the year, share ideas and work together in the
snowmobiles, ATVs, watercraft and motorcycles. decision process. The first General Meeting was held
Targeted media campaigns help to ensure that the in October 2011. From 2012 onward, it will be held in
event is well covered and that it reaches motorized January.
recreational sports enthusiasts.
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 6

10. PROMOTION
Adapting and innovating to raise awareness with a wider audience
Operation Lifesaver has been in existence for more than 30 years. Over this time a lot has changed, but our
message has remained the same. In order to make sure that our message stays relevant and front-of-mind
for Canadians of all ages, we continuously re-work our materials - innovating and adapting so that we can
reach our audience by whatever medium they demand.
Below you’ll find a few of the cutting edge messaging strategies we developed in 2011.
THE OFF THE RAILS CONTEST PARTNERSHIP WITH CANADIAN GEOGRAPHIC
Directed at 11 – 14 year olds, the Off the Rails Contest In an effort to
was launched in September 2011 and asked youth to promote the Off the
create a rail safety message urging their peers to stay Rails Contest, we
off the rails. Working in teams of two or more, youth created a poster,
were encouraged to have fun creating a message in along with an
the form of a short video, a poster, a song or even a introductory letter,
comic strip. Contest prizes included four grand prizes which we sent to
of $2,000 and eight secondary prizes of $500, totaling 250 school boards
more than $10,000. A special website was created for in Canada. Once
the contest: www.offtherailscontest.ca. we had received
positive support,
The contest deadline was December 31, 2011: 76 we partnered
registered teams participated, there were teams with Canadian
from seven different provinces and a total of 31 Geographic to
submissions were received. The public voting portion have 15,000
of the contest will run from February 1 – February 29, inserts, containing
2012. Prizes will be handed out during Rail Safety our poster and
Week, which will take place from April 30 – May 6, letter, distributed
2012. along with their July/August special rail revival
edition. 11,000 went to members, typically geography
teachers, and the remaining 4,000 to people outside
of schools.
YOUTH YOUTUBE VIDEO
In 2011, Operation Lifesaver received a number
of complaints regarding the growing number of
videos being posted by young people on YouTube
that depicted inappropriate activity around railway
property. In order to counter this disturbing trend,
we produced and posted our own YouTube “PSA”
to help demonstrate potential consequences of
such activity. This low-profile video was intended to
simulate amateur footage in an attempt to reach out
to this audience. The video was produced by Digital
Video Productions from Barrie, Ontario, and featured
student actors from Applewood Heights Secondary
School in Mississauga, Ontario.
7 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

11. PROMOTION
STANDALONE POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS 2011 ROGER CYR AWARD
These professional quality presentations were The Roger Cyr Award, named after the founder of
developed to run in settings without a presenter. Operation Lifesaver Canada, is presented annually
Slideshows are intended to deliver the Operation to an individual who helps reduce highway-railway
Lifesaver safety message at a variety of unmanned crossing collisions and trespassing incidents. The
locations (display booths, trade shows, stations, etc.). 2011 recipient was veteran train engineer with the
They can be looped and used on TVs and monitors Québec-Gatineau Railway (QGR) and a certified
and are available for the following audiences: truck Operation Lifesaver presenter since 2009, Miguel
drivers, school bus drivers, motor coach and transit Lewerenz.
drivers, emergency responders, newly licensed
drivers and recreational vehicle operators. A On his personal time Mr. Lewerenz has met with
presentation featuring trespassing information is also principals of the Trois-Rivières school board, clubs
available. such as the model railroading club, and a cross-
section of public safety officials. Mr. Lewerenz has
delivered more than 30 presentations to students
UPDATED PUBLIC RAIL SAFETY GUIDES at local schools, represented Operation Lifesaver in
AND TIP SHEETS the Québec ATV tradeshow and promoted rail safety
In 2011, the Public Rail Safety Guide and 11 Tip during public safety events.
Sheets for a number of audiences were revised. The
graphics and wording were updated and appropriate Mr. Lewerenz was presented with his award at
links to the Operation Lifesaver website and our a dinner hosted by Operation Lifesaver and the
various social media sites were added. Québec-Gatineau Railway in Montreal, on September
19, 2011.
B e low left t o right: Coordin a t o r, T r a i n i n g & R u l e s N o r m A d a m s ( Q u é b e c - G a t i n e a u R a i l w a y ) , O L V o lu n t e e r E m i l y L a v a l lé e - Brien (Québec-
G a t ineau Railway), Presiden t M a r i o B r a u l t (Q u é b e c - G a t i n e a u R a i lw a y ), R o g e r C y r A w a r d r e c i p i e n t M i g u e l L e w e r e n z , O L National Director
D a n Di Tota, VP Safety & C o m p l i a n c e T y r o n e J a m e s ( G e n e s e e & W y o m i n g I n c . ) , Su p e r v i s o r a n d O L V o lu n t e e r St é p h a n e L afontaine (Québec-
G a t ineau Railway).
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 8

12. ADVOCACY
Helping to shape our Helping to shape our of all Canadians
industry for the good industry for the good of all Canadians
CHANGES TO THE RAILWAY SAFETY ACT
In October 2011, Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities announced that the
Government of Canada had re-introduced legislation to improve rail safety in Canada. These changes will put
the Railway Safety Act on par with other Acts governing other modes of transportation. In particular, these
changes are designed to encourage enhanced safety management systems (SMS) and promote a culture of
safety around railways. The new Act will also require railways to qualify for Railway Operating Certificates based
on their SMS and penalize rule breakers with tough new monetary penalties.
Operation Lifesaver and our partners promoted additional changes to the Railway Safety Act amendment package
regarding grade crossing safety improvement and better management of land use planning and development
near railway property. Specifically, the industry wants to ensure that communities notify the affected railways of
zoning changes and new developments in order to prevent trespass issues.
GRADE CROSSING CLOSURE PROGRAM FOLLOW-UP
In last year’s Annual Report we mentioned Transport Canada’s Grade Crossing Closure Program, a grant
program aimed at reducing the number of grade crossings in Canada. Eligible grant recipients – municipalities,
provinces, businesses and private citizens – who own the rights to use a passive railway crossing can sign an
agreement giving up these rights and close the crossing.
In 2011, VIA’s Safety, Security and Risk Management team, in collaboration with Operations, launched an
initiative to convince landowners to close as many private level crossings as possible, and raise awareness of
the grants offered by the Grade Crossing Program. As a result of this effort, the following farm/private crossings
were closed last year:
• VIA Alexandria Subdivision (Coteau to Ottawa) - 55
• VIA Chatham Subdivision (Chatham to Windsor) – 4
• CN Kingston Subdivision (Brockville to Oshawa) – 7
CN and CP are also conducting work on their properties to eliminate redundant and unsafe crossings. In addition,
a number of other safety improvements were made to crossings along VIA, CN and CP tracks.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN
THE CANADIAN TRANSPORTATION AGENCY AND TRANSPORT CANADA
The Canadian Transportation Agency and Transport Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to
ensure all new crossings being considered across the country have a full safety assessment completed before
being approved.
LAND USE GUIDELINES
As new developments are built near railway property there is greater interaction between people and trains. This
leads to enhanced risks for trespassing, injuries and deaths. Land use guidelines are designed to minimize such
risks. In 2011, Operation Lifesaver, along with our partners, continued to promote existing land use guidelines to
communities and railways.
NEW GUIDELINES FOR CONVERSION OF LAND FROM COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL
In 2011, our partners began the development of new guidelines for conversion of land from commercial to
residential to help control future trespass situations and grade crossing safety. They will be published in Q2 2012.
9 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

13. Public Rail Safety.
Public Rail Safety.
Join the Conversation.
fac ebook.com/oplifesaver twitter.com/oplifesaver youtube.com/OperationLifesaverCA

14. FUTURE
WHAT’S AHEAD IN 2012?
2011 was a fantastic year for Operation Lifesaver and we’re proud of the new and exciting ways we found to
share our important message with Canadians. Here are a few of the ways we plan to build upon the last year’s
successes in 2012:
• A more modern, user-friendly Database of Operation Lifesaver Information (DOLI) is in the works
for 2012. This computer program houses all information pertaining to Operation Lifesaver associates,
presenters and tracks and lists all presentations and activities held by OL and our partners. The new
program will be web-based and will allow users to view and print reports containing information like
where presentations have been done, how many have been done, etc. A beta version is expected in
early 2012.
• The current Train to Drive (www.TrainToDrive.net) website is targeted at newly licensed drivers. In
2012, we plan to launch Train to Drive V. 2.0. This new site will incorporate additional information
for motor coach and transit drivers, school bus drivers and truck drivers. The site will also undergo a
redesign so that it is appropriate for drivers of all ages and demographics.
• One of 2011’s most exciting accomplishments was the launch of the Off the Rails Contest. We are
pleased with contest participation and look forward to awarding prizes to the winners during 2012’s
Rail Safety Week. Afterwards, we plan to evaluate the contest and based upon our findings, launch a
second contest at some point in 2012.
• We are looking forward to another successful Rail Safety Week, scheduled for April 30 - May 6. The
theme for 2012 will focus on trespassing with the “These Tracks are for Trains!” message. We will be
launching seven new trespassing posters as part of this important event.
• Along with our partners, we look forward to supporting and promoting the fourth annual International
Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) on June 7. In 2011, more than 40 countries committed
around the world, including Canada. For 2012, we plan to issue a number of press releases to garner
media attention. Transport Canada will once again mark the event by holding the Atlantic Region
Railway Conference in Moncton, New Brunswick.
11 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

15. Look, Listen, & Live
OPERATION LIFESAVER
April 30–May 6, 2012
www.operationlifesaver.ca
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 12

16. ADVISORY COMMITTEE
L u c Bourdon Rachel Lui
D i r ector General, Rail Safety Manager Program Design and Integration
Tr a nsport Canada Tr a n s p o r t C a n a d a
O t t awa, ON Ottawa, ON
S t e phen Covey Raynald Marchand
C h ief of Police G e n e r a l M a n a g e r, P r o g r a m s
C a nadian National Railway Canada Safety Council
M o ntréal, QC Ottawa, ON
P a ul Goyette Ivan McClelland
D i r ector, Public Affairs Chief of Police
T h e Railway Association of Canad a CP Police Service
O t t awa, ON C a l g a r y, A B
R o bert Gray Rob Smith
S e nior Manager, Health, Safety & Chairman, Ontario Provincial Legislative
E m ergency Preparedness Te a m s t e r s C a n a d a R a i l C o n f e r e n c e
V I A Rail Canada Perth, ON
M o ntréal, QC
Dave Springer
M a tt Holland R e g i o n a l Tr a ff i c a n d M a r i n e M an a g e r
D i r ector, Safety & Security Ontario Provincial Police
M e trolinx Smith Falls, ON
To r onto, ON
M i k e Lowenger J e a n Ti e r n e y
Vi c e-President, S e n i o r D i r e c t o r, S a f e t y, S e c u r i t y a n d
O p erations & Regulatory Affairs Risk Management
T h e Railway Association of Canad a VIA Rail Canada
O t t awa, ON Montréal, QC
Transport Transports
Canada Canada
13 ANNUAL REPORT 2011