TORONTO, Ont. — John Cyopeck, CEO of Canpar Transport L.P., has been presented with the 2005 Trailmobile Service to the Industry Award, the highest honour bestowed on an executive in the Ontario trucking industry. The award was presented during a special ceremony held at the Ontario Trucking Association’s (OTA) 79th annual convention.

The Trailmobile Service to Industry Award honours an individual who, by their commitment, vision, leadership and unstinting service, has made an outstanding contribution to the development and success of the truck transportation industry. The selection was made by a panel of Cyopeck’s peers, most of whom are previous winners themselves. The award is a beautiful charcoal portrait of the recipient.

Cyopeck, 61, who serves as vice-chair of the OTA and Chairman of the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) in addition to his duties at Canpar, has spent almost 50 years in the in the industry and is a well-respected and well-liked member of the carrier community. He is not one to shy away from a challenge and is widely credited with engineering the turnaround at Canpar in the 1990s (he joined the company in 1989) before being purchased by the Transforce Income Fund in 2002, where it continues a stellar performance.

In 1999 Cyopeck received the Award of Lifetime Achievement, presented to Canadian business leaders who have dedicated their careers to the field of transportation and in the process have made a significant contribution to the industry. In 2000 Cyopeck was the first ever recipient of the Courier Executive of the Year Award presented by the Canadian Courier Association.

Cyopeck is also one of the Canadian trucking industry’s foremost philanthropists, having raised $1.3 million for the Trillium Health Centre’s new MRI clinic, after having been diagnosed with a brain tumour and undergoing surgery at the centre.

“Everyone in the industry has been inspired by John,” said David Bradley, president of the OTA and CEO of the CTA. “Not just because his fundraising campaign was so successful but because it is so typical of him. He is emblematic of the generosity of spirit of the trucking industry.”

Over the years Canpar has supported dozens of charities and road safety initiatives, including The Children’s Wish Foundation, Child Find, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, the R.I.D.E Campaign, Reach for the Rainbow, Toshiba Breath of Life Challenge, and Heather Funston Memorial Scholarship.

Cyopeck said he takes tremendous pride in being a part of the Canadian transportation industry and feels a great sense of accomplishment knowing that his company adds value not only to North American commerce but also to the health and well-being of his fellow Canadians.