TORONTO, Ont. – The late Al Palladini, former Minister of Transportation was among the honorees at the 32nd annual National Transportation Week awards breakfast. Palladini received the Transportation Person of the Year award for his contribution to Ontario’s transportation system. Before the award was handed out, Walter Scott, president of McArthur Express recounted Palladini’s efforts to make improving the quality of the roads a priority for the government.

He even went as far as to promise to fill every pothole even if he had to do it himself.

To further honor “everybody’s pal” the award was renamed the Al Palladini Transportation Person of the Year award.

Accepting on Palladini’s behalf was his son, Franco Palladini.

“He’s really proud today. He is,” says the tearful son of the former minister.

“You don’t realize what kind of effect the work you do one day can have on people down the road. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for keeping the roads safe and for keeping my fathers name with you,” says Palladini.

Corey Vaughan, a truck driver for SLH Transport Inc., was awarded the Mandeep Dhillon Humanitarian Award for his heroism.

KRTS Transportation Specialists were recipients of an Award of Excellence in education and training for its Next Generation truck driver-finishing program.

Also receiving an Award of Excellence under the business innovation category was Yellow Freight System of Mississauga.

McArthur’s Scott received the Colonel Robert Hardie Award of lifetime achievement for his dedication to the industry for more than 50 years. Paul Hammond, president of Muskoka Transport and his brother Orvil Hammond, president of Hammond Transportation both received lifetime achievement awards for their years of dedication to the industry. When Cecil McKay, president of D & M Transport received his lifetime achievement award he was surprised.

Also receiving lifetime achievement awards were three truckers from Queensway Tank Lines, Guy LeBrun, Stewart Blair and Ralph Sayeau. All three of them will be retiring this year. David Kropf, a resident of New Hamburg, was named the Freight Transportation Employee of the Year. n