TORONTO, Ont. (Nov. 15, 2001) — The 75th Ontario Trucking Association annual convention was kicked off this morning with the announcement of several 2001 award winners.

One recipient to be recognized for his contributions to the Ontario trucking industry was Labatt Breweries of Ontario driver George Smagala. The former OTA Road Knight was presented with the OTA/Volvo Trucks Canada Driver of the Year Award. Smagala has been a professional driver for 25 years and has accumulated four million collision-free kilometres during that time. “His driver abstract is a blank sheet. Absolutely no incidences,” said Volvo Canada vice-president of marketing Brent Weary, who presented the award.

Next up was Corey Vaughan, a driver for Kingston, Ont.-based SLH Transport. Vaughan was handed the 2001 Bridgestone/Firestone Truck Hero Award, for his quick-thinking and brave actions at a tragic accident scene last year. After a head-on collision between two passenger vehicles, Vaughan stopped his truck and rescued the lone occupant that survived the crash.

Rick Hoyle, president of Cummins Ontario, was presented with the OTA President’s Award, which recognizes the outstanding contributions to the industry by an allied trades member.

Bud Barr, founder of the OTA Education Foundation, was also on hand to present Michelle Jollymore, with this year’s Bud Barr Scholarship. The contribution goes to the son or daughter of an Ontario truck driver who has overcome adversity pursuing their academic goals. Jollymore’s father is a driver with Don Anderson Haulage. Kevin Shaughnessy, who’s father is with Hutton Transport, was named as the recipient of a second scholarship.

The OTA also inducted David Gaskin of Markel Insurance Company of Canada and Shawn Patrick Reynolds of Roy Curran Transport into the OTA Pioneer’s Club. The induction is to mark the milestone of serving the trucking industry for 25 years. Roy Curran of Roy Curran Transport was inducted into the Half-Century Club for his 50 years of service.