Just a quick glance at the cover stories for this month’s issue would suggest times are still pretty tough in the trucking industry. Fleets failing, unhappy truckers – and to top it all off, it comes during the cold and dark days of winter.

So why am I feeling so good? Simple, we’re smack-dab in the middle of the Olympics, that’s why.

For a couple of weeks every two years the entire world comes together to celebrate the best of our young athletes.

The Winter Games in particular are a magical time, as Canadians, these are sports we understand: hockey, curling and all manner of skating, skiing and sliding.

The opening ceremonies in Salt Lake proved to be a perfect blend of American patriotism and outstretched hands of welcome to the world – something many folks around the office were a little worried about heading into the festivities.

For me the Olympics have always captured my imagination during those poignant moments in an athlete’s career. A window into the agony and ecstasy that can only come when competing at such a high level.

Four years of hard work comes down to just a few brief moments.

Certainly Cindy Klassen, our first medallist of these games, provided us all with a wonderful memory to hold on to. This 22-year-old Winnipeger barely missed making the trip to Naganno to compete on the women’s hockey team.

At that point she changed her focus and shifted to speed skating and when she laid claim to the bronze in the 3,000-metre event her dreams were realized. In fact, Cindy was just three one-hundredths of a second out of the silver medal spot.

This type of parody among the planet’s best can also swing the other way, too. My heart goes out to another young Canadian, Jennifer Heil, whose performance in the women’s moguls was phenomenal. She ended up in fourth spot, missing the podium by one one-hundredth of a second. While that type of result is more than good enough in my books, we all know there are still many folks who judge Canada’s Olympic teams strictly based on their medal totals.

Personally I get such a lift just watching them compete I can’t imagine doing such a thing. Anyone skilled enough to wear the Maple Leaf on the world’s stage deserves our support, adoration and above all else our applause – no matter what the result.

On a personal note, I’d like to congratulate John Curran and Brandi Cramer on attaining their AZ licences. As well, my hat goes off to James Menzies who has been promoted to the role of western news bureau chief.

Great work folks.