Cal Woods was the founding secretary and for many years the de facto unpaid executive director of the Steelhead Society.
As a quiet, gentle man with infinite patience and iron resolve, he defined the character of the Steelhead Society, guiding and shaping the energies and efforts of younger directors. They all benefited from his mentorship, as did the Society which won respect as the capable and informed voice of river conservation.
It was the first organization inclusive enough to work with First Nations, government, industry, commercial fishermen, Canadian and foreign sports fishermen, and local communities to provide solutions for problems and activities threatening wild fish and wild rivers.
In that sense, there is no organization quite like the Steelhead Society, and the Cal Woods Award reflects that characteristic.
| 2019: | Fin Donnelly |
| 2014: | Dan Cahill |
| 2011: | Jim Culp |
| 2010: | Craig Orr |
| 2009: | Poul Bech |
| 2001: | Peter W. Soverel |
| 2000: | Eric Carlisle |
| 1999: | The Honourable David Anderson |
| 1998: | The Honourable H. P. (Budge) Bell-Irving |
| 1997: | Jim Walker |
| 1996: | Myron Kozak |
| 1995: | Curley Chittenden |
| 1994: | Gordon Hartman |
| 1993: | Bob Hooton |
| 1992: | Joseph Saysell |
| 1991: | Pat Moss |
| 1990: | Terry Jacks |
| 1989: | Father Charles A. E. Brandt |
| 1988: | Robert Kelly Dahl |
| 1987: | The Honourable Tom McMillan |
| 1986: | The Haig-Brown Kingfisher Creek Society |
| 1985: | Max Tscharre |