AMTA Drawdown Dinner Brings Industry Together for an Evening of Connection and Giving
Published
The event welcomed carriers, suppliers, industry partners and friends from across the province for a night filled with great food, entertainment, prize draws and fundraising.
More than 400 members of Alberta's commercial transportation community came together at the River Cree Venue in Enoch on Thursday, Oct. 15 for AMTA's annual Drawdown Dinner, a signature industry event that combined laughter, entertainment, prize draws and charitable giving with the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, strengthen partnerships and celebrate the people behind Alberta's trucking industry.
The event welcomed carriers, suppliers, industry partners and friends from across the province for a night filled with great food, entertainment, prize draws and fundraising.
"Events like this remind us of the value of coming together as an industry, building relationships, sharing ideas, and strengthening the connections that keep commercial transportation moving forward," said Michelle Spacil, AMTA Director of Member Services.
"Since 1938, AMTA has been supporting Alberta's commercial transportation industry, and that support is made stronger through opportunities like this where members, partners and friends can connect outside of the day-to-day business."
Alongside the networking and fundraising, guests were treated to an engaging performance by Jeff Newman, whose blend of mentalism, humour and audience participation had the room laughing, guessing and fully involved in the show.
Another of the evening's highlights was the return of renowned artist Lewis Lavoie, who spent the night creating an original piece of artwork before guests' eyes. The completed painting was auctioned off later in the evening, with a portion of proceeds supporting Legacy Place Society. Volunteers from Legacy Place were also in attendance selling 50/50 tickets and sharing information about the important work they do to support peace officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, 911 dispatchers and military members, along with their families. More than $4,500 was raised through a live auction - conducted by emcee Danny Hooper - and 50/50 draw.
Guests also enjoyed AMTA's signature computerized draw featuring a wide variety of sponsored prizes, culminating in the final draw where Dave Puittinen, Mike Polsom and Tony McEwen were among the final four participants who shared the $2,000 prize.
The success of the evening would not have been possible without the support of AMTA's generous sponsors, including Fountain Tire, Ocean Trailer, Truck-All Depot, Kal Tire, Navacord Insurance, Thermo King, Tremcar West, Cold Front, Fort Garry Industries, Inline Industries, BVD Travel Centres, Western Star North, High Torque, 8760 Expense Management, Inter-Pacific Specialized Services, Diamond Truck Centres, and the River Cree Resort and Casino.
AMTA also recognized the dedicated volunteer committee members who helped bring the event to life: Dwayne Warawa of Ocean Trailer, Greg Sokil of Sokil Transportation, Tim Kydd of Fountain Tire, Kate Malley of Fort Garry Industries, Doug Riddell of TEN Leasing, and Shaunalee Boyle of 8760 Expense Management.