Mr. Scott Masters is a distinguished educator and historian based in Toronto, Canada, best known for founding and leading the Crestwood Oral History Project at Crestwood Preparatory College. For over two decades, Mr. Masters has passionately dedicated himself to preserving the personal stories of veterans, Holocaust survivors, and other witnesses to history. His work has resulted in an extraordinary archive of first-person accounts that continue to educate and inspire students and the broader public alike.
Through the Crestwood Oral History Project, Mr. Masters has interviewed hundreds of veterans from across Canada and beyond, capturing their experiences from World War II, Korea, Afghanistan, and other conflicts. These interviews not only honor the individual service of veterans but also serve as an enduring educational resource that emphasizes the importance of memory, service, and sacrifice.
In recognition of his innovative and impactful work, Mr. Masters was awarded the Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2012—Canada’s most prestigious award in the field of history education. This national honor acknowledged his exceptional ability to bring history to life for his students and the wider community through original research, personal interviews, and a commitment to active remembrance.
As further testament to Mr Masters dedication he is also the recipient of prestigious awards such as the Dahlgren Award, Jewish War Veterans International “Flames of Memory” Memorial Award, Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence, The Governor General’s History Awards for Excellence in Teaching…the list is actually longer.
Perhaps the greatest of all rewards, and one that the project have personally witnessed numerous times, is how Mr. Masters manages to captivate the younger generations while connecting with the veterans. This creates a bridge enabling the deeper learning and understanding for the sacrifices made which is so profoundly important as we speak to what will be our future.
Mr. Masters’ commitment to veteran legacy preservation extends beyond the classroom. He has played an instrumental role in supporting international remembrance initiatives, including his significant contributions to The Log Book Project
He has personally facilitated several key additions to the project, leveraging his extensive network of contacts within the veteran community to secure rare and meaningful entries that can be seen here. His assistance has helped deepen the historical value of the log book and broaden its narrative reach.
In all his efforts, Mr. Scott Masters exemplifies the power of education and community engagement in safeguarding history. Through both local and international collaboration, he continues to inspire new generations to listen, learn, and remember.
We are immensely grateful for his engagement in our project!
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