AMTA Board of Directors announces Dean Paisley Service to Industry Award
Everyone in Alberta’s commercial transportation industry is familiar with the name Dean Paisley.
Throughout his 48-year career, Dean had tremendous impacts not only on the industry but also on the lives of all who knew him.
In honour of Dean’s life – and his many significant contributions to both AMTA and the industry, the association’s Board of Directors has announced that AMTA’s Service to Industry Award has been changed to the Dean Paisley Service to Industry Award.
“Dean was a great friend, an ambassador, and a statesman of the commercial transportation industry in Alberta and beyond,” says Jude Groves, AMTA immediate past chair. “He insisted that we celebrate our successes, excited his peers around their shared responsibilities to lead, and, as is clear by all those he has left behind at AMTA, cultivated – and called to order – the future leaders of our industry. This is exemplified by his son, Doug, and, a large portion of our current board members. Dean’s legacy lives on.”
Presented annually by AMTA, the Dean Paisley Service to Industry Award recognizes the recipient’s efforts and commitment to the Association, its members, and the commercial transportation industry.
Dean gave back to the industry he was so passionate about, serving AMTA for more than 35 years – including two terms as president (2009-2011; 2014-2015).
“Dean gave his heart and soul to the industry he so loved,” says Lorraine Card, AMTA’s past president, who retired in 2018. “Over the years, Dean and I had many conversations regarding the commercial transportation industry. He always took the time to remain in contact with friends and peers, thus remaining current with industry trends.”
“Dean was always a champion for our industries’ drivers – recognizing where we lost our way and struggled to define and develop the levels of professionalism our work calls for,” Groves says. “He was also one of the first to roll his sleeves up, call us together, and say, ‘let’s fix it.’ It was an honour to be part of the group that unanimously supported this token of recognition for the dedication, efforts, and commitment that Dean showed our industry over his tenured career.”
Dean started his career in trucking in 1965 in Saskatchewan, working with his brothers hauling livestock across the province. In 1971, Dean and his family moved to Alberta, where he worked as an owner/operator with H&R Transport, before purchasing Lethbridge Truck Terminals in 1989. Dean operated and grew the company until his retirement in 2013.
“Dean was one of the most caring and soft-spoken people within our industry,” says Carl Rosenau, AMTA board member. “His dedication to AMTA was highly regarded, and he was well-respected in the industry. He was always fair to his customers and competition, and he was also a great competitor. You always knew where you stood with Dean; he was never wishy-washy.”
Dean passed away on Oct. 13, 2022. A Celebration of Dean’s Life was held on Oct. 29, 2022, in Lethbridge, AB.
“Dean was a mentor who could be counted on to impart his wisdom, give advice, and offer encouragement,” Card says. “He will fondly be remembered as a kind and gentle man, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, who was steadfast in his commitment to the industry.”
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