MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — The Ontario Trucking Association, in cooperation with several other organizations, will be holding an awards breakfast on May 30, as part of National Transportation Week.

The event, to be hosted at the Triumph Howard Johnson Plaza in Toronto, will recognize people from the industry for their outstanding contributions, says the association.

The breakfast will include not only representatives from the trucking industry but also the Toronto Transit Commission, GO Transit, Transport Canada, Ontario Motor Coach Association, Ontario School Bus Association.

The awards have been presented by the Ontario Minister of Transportation for the past five years.

The Ontario National Transportation Week Committee will honor businesses and people engaged in transportation for the following awards:

— Transportation Person of the Year, for candidates must have assumed leadership roles during their careers, which have advanced their company or the field of transportation.

— Transportation Program of the Year: A new program, product, service or management philosophy recently introduced that has been successful in increasing sales, profit, reduced cost or has improved the image of transportation.

— Employee of the Year: This person will symbolize commitment to his or her position/organization. This commitment could manifest itself in various forms: letters of recommendations commenting on the work ethic/customer service from an employees supervisors or customers they serve. These attributes would be exhibited over a period of time.

— Freight & Passenger Transportation Person of the Year: This person will symbolize commitment to his/her profession. This commitment could manifest itself in various forms: on-road safety records, letters of recommendation commenting on the work ethic/customer service, community service, etc. These attributes are to be exhibited over time.

— Award of Excellence: The candidates have, during the past year/years, made an outstanding contribution to the betterment of the transportation industry in terms of areas such as safety, environment, education, technology, policy or corporate development.

— Program of the Year: A company in the past year has introduced a new product/service/strategy that has charged the company/organization.

— Award of Lifetime Achievement: The candidates have dedicated at least 30 successful years to transportation.

— Award of Valor: During the preceding year the candidates must have performed an act of bravery in perilous circumstances in defense of life.

Members of the trucking industry are invited to submit candidates for the awards before the May 4, deadline. For further information and tickets to the breakfast, call Yvonne Macaulay at 416-249-7401.