William J. Roué | Accolades & Awards
1921, December 30
Received a commemorative plaque and gift of recognition from the citizens of Dartmouth for bringing fame and pride to their town.
1932
Included in Prominent Men of Canada publication.
1954
Honoured by the Armdale Yacht Club.
1955
Inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame (Sport: Yachting; Theme: Aquatics).
Still the only yacht designer in Canada to receive this honour.
1963, February 27
Helped drive a commemorative golden spike into the keel of Bluenose II, along with Captain Angus Walters – Bluenose master, and members of the Oland family – builders of Bluenose II.
1963, June 18
Honoured by the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron.
1963, July 24
Honoured guest at the launching of Bluenose II in Lunenburg; the recipient of a commemorative medal.
Posthumous
1995
A Spirit Deep Within – a W.J. Roué biography written by great-granddaughter Joan Roué – was published; launched aboard Bluenose II.
1997, September 13
The Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron hosted ‘A Toast to William Roué’ gala. Attended by over 500, the function was attended by dignitaries, Roué enthusiasts and even Bluenose II. The guest speaker was George Cuthbertson, a prominent naval architect from Toronto.
1998, July 24
Canada Post issued a commemorative stamp bearing the image of W.J. Roué.
2000, June 28
The “William Roué and Bluenose” millennium marker of distinction was unveiled, located on the Dartmouth waterfront of the Halifax Harbour.
2002, April 27
WJRoue.ca was launched (on the 123rd anniversary of W.J. Roué’s birth date)
2002, May 3
William J. Roué Reading Room opened in the Lunenburg Library
2002, October 31
Recipient of Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Commemorative Medal; awarded to Canadians who have made outstanding and exemplary contributions to their communities or to Canada as a whole.
2004, February 1
W.J. Roué was inducted in the Nova Scotia Sport Hall Of Fame
2016, September
William James Roué Collection officially designated as being of “outstanding significance and national importance”
2016, October 27
William James Roué Collection Finds Perpetual Home at Canadian Museum of History
2017, January 17
Award-winning Nova Scotia folk singer/songwriter James Devine dedicates ‘The Schooner Bluenose – We Do Adore’ to W.J. Roué. listen | lyrics
2017, June 30
‘Beyond Bluenose’ exhibit opens at the Canadian Museum of History
2017, July 1
The Canadian History Hall opens at the Canadian Museum of History. Of the 1,500 artifacts selected to represent Canada’s history, three are from the William James Roué Collection.
2018, July 31
A spectacular life-size William J. Roué bronze bust was unveiled by Joan Roué and sculptor Chippie Kennedy at the entrance to the William J. Roué Study during the grand opening of the relocation of the Lunenburg Library to the stately and historic Lunenburg Academy.