CALGARY, Alta. — The creator of the Zafety Lug Log wheel-locking device that prevents wheel-offs has won a prestigious Ernest C. Manning Innovation Award.

Ilfor ‘Taffy’ Caine Davies of Oakville, Ont. won $10,000 as part of the award program. His device ‘cuffs’ wheel nuts to maintain the required resistance to keep wheel bolts secure. There are a million Zafety Lug Lock devices on public and commercial vehicles around the world.

The award was announced Sept. 30 by Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation president, Jennifer Diakiw.

“This Foundation champions Canadian innovators of all ages from across Canada,” she said. “These are Canadians who inspire us with their imagination to innovate and the stamina to succeed.  We want to shine a national spotlight on them as Canada works to build our knowledge-based economy.”

The 2013 award winners shared $145,000 in prize money, while five Young Canadian Award winners brought home $16,000 in reward money.

 Ernest C. Manning Innovation Award winners are selected by a distinguished independent selection committee, comprised of members from across Canada who are established leaders and authorities from various disciplines. They are supported in the selection process by experts in fields as diverse as medicine, genetics, engineering, industrial processes and social entrepreneurship.  The Young Canadian Award winners were selected by a team of judges at the 2013 Canada-Wide Science Fair in May, 2013.