VOYAGEUR TRAINER HONOURED

Greg Atkin, instructor for Voyageur Transportation Services, has been named trainer of the year by the Transportation Health and Safety Association (THSAO), council of driver training.

"Greg, has worked hard and devotes a lot of his spare time to various associations, it is well deserved," said Corey Jarvis, director of training for Voyageur Training Solutions.

The announcement made at the recent council of driver training's annual golf tournament and dinner at the Ridgetown Golf and County Club.

Atkin said the award came as a "surprise and honour."

THSAO, a non-profit organization and part of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) works with management and labour to ensure workplace personnel are trained to avoid injuries, illnesses and accidents in the workplace.

Voyageur Training Solutions, a subsidiary of Voyageur Transportation Solutions, the London Chamber of Commerce's recent Large Business Award winner, is a service provider of various transportation health safety programs to the general public and companies.

LOVEDAY'S TOWING WINS AWARD

Loveday's Towing of St. Thomas, in business for almost 75 years, won a Silver Award and has been acknowledged as a CAA/AAA service provider of excellence.

Loveday's won based on its performance in serving members, community involvement and providing the best possible roadside assistance.

"Loveday's Towing consistently scored well in the areas of average time of arrival, the ratio of dispatch to on-scene times, the percentage arrived on-scene within the estimated time of arrival, and customer service. They just quietly do their job well and focus on CAA member satisfaction," said Anne Baker, senior director, automotive services, CAA Mid-Western Ontario.

Tom and Kathy Orr, owners of Loveday's Towing since 2001, accepted the award recently from CAA Mid-Western Ontario. Also present was George Loveday, the second generation owner of the original Loveday's.

BAKER TOP TECHNOLOGY STUDENT

Cassandra Baker, a Grade 8 student of St. Bernadette's Catholic school in London, has won a technology award donated by Cyberteks Design of London.

The award, donated by Cyberteks to celebrate its fourth anniversary, was awarded for her achievement in technology studies at the school. Baker was awarded a trophy, plaque and cheque for $250 at the recent graduation ceremony.

"I am very pleased to offer this annual scholarship to my old school," said Keith Peiris, Cyberteks Design president. "I want to set an example to the more established businesses. The schools need help to provide a good education to the younger generation."

Peiris, 15, is a former student of St. Bernadette's. He is now at Regina Mundi Catholic College.

Cyberteks Design, a division of Cyberteks Systems Corp., is an interactive design studio, e-commerce, online marketing and Web hosting company.

POLLOCK CELEBRATES 50 YEARS

Pollock NationaLease in Strathroy is celebrating 50 years in business.

The company, which provides full service leasing and rental of trucks, and trailers to manufacturing, transportation and service industries, has a fleet of 3,500 trucks and trailers in six locations from Windsor to Toronto and in Moncton, N.B.

The company recently held a staff barbecue at its London facility on Sise Road to celebrate the anniversary and has been touring every Pollock site, barbecuing for staff to mark the anniversary.

"We've kept our nose down and to the grindstone, but we have also tried to be innovative in a number of ways," Jim Pollock, owner and chief executive, said of the reason for the company's longevity.

Pollock was established in 1953 with one truck, serving one customer, and grew quickly to 12 trucks by 1958. It continued to expand throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In 2001, it acquired Tiger Leasing, more than doubling the size of its fleet.

Pollock is the distributor for London-based Emco and recently won a contract to supply parts to the Cami Automotive plant in Ingersoll. Pollock now employs 260 and that will soon rise to about 300 with the Cami deal.

The company was started by Don Pollock, Jim's father, in 1953. He died in May.

"This is going to be a year-long celebration," said Pollock, adding that every company event will have a 50-year theme.