TORONTO — Gord Box recently increased his activities with the Ontario Trucking Association after joining the board of directors for the association’s Education Foundation.

The president of Provincial Trailer Rentals in Mississauga, Ont. is also a director for the OTA Allied Trades Division, as well as the Canadian Trucking Human Resources Council.

“Gord brings with him a great deal of industry experience and dedication to the Foundation, and I know that he has a long-term approach in dealing with industry issues,” says Scott Smith, chairman of the OTA Education Foundation. “Just as importantly, Gord understands the importance and the role of qualified people in the trucking industry.”

Box has spent more than 30 years in the transportation industry, serving in a variety of senior executive positions. He was employed at Ryder Truck Rental Canada for 25 years, and from 1983 to 1998 served as vice-president and general manager for Ryder Canada. He has been the president of Provincial Trailer Rentals for the past seven years.

Also announced by the foundation was the recipients of three scholarships. Veronica Daniel received the J.D. Smith Leaders of Tomorrow scholarship, Stephanie Roberts received the Erb Group Service to Community scholarship, and Terry Aitken received a scholarship endowed by Bison Transport.

The J.D. Smith and Sons scholarship went to Veronica Daniel, the daughter of a truck driver employed by Wasteco in Brampton, Ont.

Daniel is beginning a two-year diploma program at Algonquin College to become a primary care paramedic. She recently obtained a kinesiology degree from the University of Waterloo.

In high school, Daniel ran a student human rights group called Students without Borders, which focused on providing educational support to children in Sierra Leone. While in university, she volunteered with Well-Fit, a cancer out-reach program that provides patients with a safe and fun environment to exercise. She also taught swimming and first aid while she worked as a lifeguard.

The Erb Group of Companies scholarship was awarded to Stephanie Roberts of Whitby, Ont. She plans on becoming a kindergarten teacher and is beginning an arts degree at York University.

Ever since Roberts was 11-years-old, she has been volunteering in the church, at school and around her community. She has been a kid’s camp counselor for five years and a vacation bible school worker for four years. She has also helped out with a senior citizens program for three years, and even organized and taught a seminar on “Creativity in the Classroom.”

Perhaps most impressive, she also served on two missions to the inner city of Los Angeles where she served food to homeless people, participated in children’s events, loaded trucks and served the less fortunate.

Bison Transport’s scholarship went to business student Terry Aitken, who is attending the University of Winnipeg after recently finishing a business administration program at Red River College in Winnipeg.

Aitken has expressed interest in the human resources field and after he obtains a business degree, plans to obtain his CHRP (Canadian Human Resources Practitioner) designation. Some of his community service includes volunteering with the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation and participating in Dragon Boat races for cancer research.