GORE BAY, Ont. — For at least one family of truckers, the year that just ended will go down in the annuals for generations to come.
We’re referring to the Smiths, of Gore Bay, Ont., and specifically patriarch Doug Smith, founder of the Manitoulin Group.
In November, at the Ontario Trucking Association’s (OTA) annual conference, Smith was presented with the Trailmobile Service to Industry Award. It’s among our industry’s most coveted citations.
And then just before the calendar year ran out, Canada’s Governor General Michelle Jean announced that Smith was named to the Order of Canada, this country’s highest civilian honour.
According to a statement from Ms. Jean’s office, Mr Smith, one of 60 appointees to the Order in ’07, was recognized in the industry, commerce and business category, for his “contributions as a business leader, philanthropist and champion of economic and community development in Northern Ontario.” Entrepreneur, philanthropist, inventor and now Officer of the Order of Canada, Doug Smith appeared with his wife Phyllis to accept the Service to Industry Award from Bert Clay of Trailmobile.
