VINCENT, Dennis Stanley (February 9, 1931 – April 5, 2013)

VINCENT, Dennis Stanley (February 9, 1931 – April 5, 2013) — President 1983 and 1984 of Alberta Trucking Association (now known as Alberta Motor Transport Association), and chairman during the 1980s of the Canadian Trucking Association (today called Canadian Trucking Alliance). Vincent, a former senior executive with Calgary-based Trimac Transportation, is remembered as a strong voice for Alberta’s transportation industry. He was a passionate leader, someone who served with distinction and left his mark on the changes that propelled the trucking industry to a new level.

“The vibrant trucking industry we have in Alberta today was forged through the mettle and vision of men like Dennis Vincent,” says AMTA executive director Don Wilson. “The work he did during his time at the association is still felt today.”

“Calm, well spoken — a voice of reason,” is how John Finn former owner of Exalta Transport and president of AMTA in 2002-2003 describes Vincent. “He was a consensus builder, and a remarkably good leader.”

Sherry Orr, a former Alberta board member, says she recalls how welcoming Dennis Vincent was when she first joined the association’s board in 1984. “I was 21 years old, the only woman on a board of 40 or 50 men. Dennis was president at the time and he took great effort to be welcoming and supportive.” Orr was catapulted to the head of Trans-Mutual Truck Lines upon the untimely passing of her father, and later rose to become president of the Alberta association in 1998.

Vincent, as a long serving member and later president of Alberta’s provincial trucking association, spearheaded many challenging issues with various levels of government. But he always had the bigger picture in view and could dovetail Alberta’s concerns with issues of national importance that required support from across the country.

“Dennis loved what he was doing for ATA and CTA,” says industry veteran and AMTA board colleague John Finn. “He was a great advocate for the trucking industry.”

Vincent advanced many key issues not only in Alberta but on the national stage as well. “Hours of service, and federal deregulation were big issues in the 80s and Dennis was involved with those.” says Finn.

“Weights and dimensions and extended length units were also policy issues where he left his fingerprints.” Even though Trimac didn’t run extended lengths, Vincent’s commitment to helping guide Alberta’s industry were unmatched. He always kept the big picture in mind and had great vision for what was best for Alberta and the country.

Dennis Stanley Vincent passed away peacefully on Friday, April 5, 2013 at the age of 82 years. Dennis was born in Lafleche, Saskatchewan and moved to Calgary in 1968 with his wife Shirley. After his retirement from Trimac Transportation in 1995, Dennis loved spending time with his wife of fifty years and his dog Sam in Rocky Mountain House camping and visiting friends in their fifth wheel.

Dennis is remembered by his two daughters, Loren Barge (Brent Nabozniak), and Janine Fontaine; nine grandchildren, Trista Barge (James Barnett), Michael (Jenn) Barge, Theresa Ziehr, John Ziehr, Genis White, Elizabeth Ziehr, Devan Fontaine, Maria Ziehr, and Megan Fontaine; as well as many other friends and family.

Services were held in Calgary on April 11. A tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park in his name.