#AMTA85: Celebrating AMTA’s past, present, and future
AMTA celebrated 85 years of advocacy and safety in Alberta’s commercial transportation industry at its Annual Leadership Conference, AGM, and Awards Gala, April 18-20 at the Delta Edmonton South.
The association’s first in-person conference since 2019, #AMTA85 drew more than 200 people and featured safety keynote Steve Howe who shared the importance of safe workplaces through his own story of personal tragedy and leadership keynote Wayne Lee, who shared the importance of purpose and performance in the workplace while providing some comic relief hypnotizing some courageous delegates. #AMTA85 also featured presentations from various speakers and panelists on a wide range of industry topics from the Canadian Trucking Alliance, to recruiting drivers, to economics, and more.
The event would not be possible without the delegates, our event sponsors, event trade show exhibitors, and AMTA management and staff who made this one of our most successful Leadership Conferences to date. And a special thank you to Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, Grand Chief Leonard Standing on the Road, and Deputy Minister Transportation and Economic Corridors Bryce Stewart.
We recognized eight deserving individuals at our Awards Gala as well. Thank you to 2023 Award winners:
Friend to Industry Award: Wendy Doyle, Alberta Government
Wendy Doyle is currently the Executive Director of Child Care with Children’s Services. Prior to joining Children’s Services, Wendy spent 22 years in the Ministry of Transportation.
Wendy has led national program committees for the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, specifically:
Road Safety Research and Policies
Compliance and Regulatory Affairs
Automated and Connected Vehicle working group
A member on the AV-CV Working Group for the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.
Wendy was presented with the Jennie Howie Government Member Award, for outstanding contributions by a government member in 2016 by CCMTA.
Wendy and her husband Glen live in Fort Saskatchewan, with their two dogs Walter and Jesse. She keeps busy outside of work playing sports such as ice hockey, ball hockey and slo-pitch, and loves to golf.
Supplier Award (Sponsored by GroupHealth Benefits): Don MacDonald, CCA Truck Driver Training
Don MacDonald, Operations Manager, CCA Truck Driver Training Ltd. is a true friend and ally in the transportation industry.
We truly appreciate Don, as he operates with the highest level of integrity and professionalism.
For years, Don is the first to raise his hand to be involved, to share his expertise, guidance, and support for the betterment of transportation, and AMTA initiatives.
Don, we appreciate you and are so happy to celebrate you for all that you have done and continue to do.
Historical Award: Erick Hansen, retired
Eric has been part of the Transportation industry for over 30+ years.
Eric worked for Alberta Transportation for over 25 years, was a manager for the trucking Industry, Oil field Consultant and an Instructor for the following programs: First Aid, ODA, PDIC, GODI and Health and Safety Systems building.
Eric has been one of the main contributors of the Oil Field Sub Committee and getting it off the ground.
Eric has brought together the City of GP, Counties in the Grande Prairie Area to work together for the benefit of industry. With some of the permitting and cost benefit analysis, you could see the monetary saving for each company. That was all put forward with Eric spearheading it. These projects would not have been put through without his hard work and effort.
Safety Person of the Year (Sponsored by HighStreet Insurance): Maryna Rolland, Arrow Transportation
Maryna began her career with Arrow as a co-op student in early 2018, she was enrolled in the OHS Diploma program at NAIT which she completed while raising her young daughter. She quickly established herself as an integral part of Arrow’s safety team and was offered a full-time position once her studies were completed.
Both her personable nature and inquisitiveness has broken the mold of what many wrongly stereotype the typical safety professional to be. When first establishing herself within Arrow, she would think nothing of meeting one of our logging truck drivers at 3am to jump in the truck and spend the day learning about their job.
Outside of Arrow, Maryna is the Chairperson of the Alberta Motor Transport Association’s Injury Reduction & Training Advisory Committee (IRTAC), she is also an alternative on the BC Forest Safety Council’s Wood Fibre Hauler’s Safety Group (WFHSG). Within Arrow, Maryna attends many of our JOHSC monthly meetings as a safety resource and attends all our pre-winter meetings as a resource.
Maryna takes full advantage of Arrow’s personal development plans, successfully gaining the Canadian Registered Safety Technician designation and is about to sit the Canadian Registered Safety Professional exam.
A large part of Maryna’s job duties includes her been out in the field in Canada and US, in both Arrow’s operations and on customer sites, helping on new hauls, and completing job observations and assistance to employees.
Driver of the Year (Sponsored by Volvo Trucks Canada): Brian Dodd, Bison Transportation
A driver for 25 years, Brian Dodd (82) has been with Bison Transport since 2009.
Brian will always prefer to cover California loads but is never hesitant to help rescuing any load for the benefit of Bison Transport and Bison Transport’s customers from the West Coast to the East and throughout North America. Brian has over 25 years of experience in the transportation industry, that itself is a testament to how he can handle various situations on the road. His communication with operation staff, breakdown department, Customs Department, shipping /receiving staff is always calm, patient, and with good manners.
Brian always has one goal in his mind: “to get the job done and get it done right “.
Brian can easily manage his Hours of Service, understands the importance of Level of Service and that is why he is doing his best every time to get the deliveries/collections done on time, every time. His dedication to the job is exceptional.
Brian Dodd can be also a very good example and coach for younger generation of professional drivers showing respect for the industry and professionalism every step of the way.
Dean Paisley Service to Industry Award (Sponsored by BFL Canada): Doug Paisley
Throughout his 48-years career in industry, Dean Paisley had a tremendous impact not only on the industry but also on the lives of all who knew him. In honour of Dean – and his many contributions – AMTA’s Board of Directors announced in November that the Service to Industry Award would be changed to the Dean Paisley Service to Industry Award.
Fitting in a year Dean’s son Doug would be the first recipient.
Doug has been AMTA’s Board Chair since September 2022, and is a long-time board member. Doug is President at RK Trailer Rentals Ltd., President at Lethbridge Truck Terminals Ltd., and is a Commercial Residential Realtor with ONYX Realty.
Doug is also the President and Governor of the Board with the Lethbridge Hurricanes hockey club.
New to the AMTA Awards lineup this year are two staff awards. The AMTA Excellence in Member Service Award allows members to nominate an AMTA staff, and the AMTA Core Value Award is for staff nominated by staff.
AMTA Excellence in Member Service: Michelle Spacil
Michelle started out with the AMTA as Injury Reduction & Training Coordinator in 2014, working her way up to Manager, Education.
She has a vast background in the Occupational Health and Safety sector, which has allowed her to assist in the development of the AMTA’s Certified Transportation Safety Professional designation. As Training Supervisor, Michelle is responsible for coordinating the development and delivery of AMTA specific training.
Of all her accomplishments, Michelle is most proud of her time spent on the Health and Safety Conference Society of Alberta board of directors. After six years on the executive board, she is currently past president.
Core Value Award: Kelsey Hipkin
As AMTA’s Marketing & Communications Specialist, Kelsey is tasked with producing external copy and industry feature stories while producing the AMTA eNews, graphic design and web updates.
Kelsey is involved in several of AMTA’s event committees and looks most forward to helping with the annual Leadership Conference & AGM.
Some of her favourite projects include producing the yearly Sponsorship Guide and AMTA Actions and Achievements.