No. H186/05
For release September 22, 2005
CALGARY - Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre, along with David J. Johnstone,
president of the Transportation Association of Canada, today announced the
winners of the 2005 Canadian Transportation Awards. The awards program
recognizes leadership, excellence and achievement in all modes and segments of
the transportation sector.
"I would like to congratulate this year's winners and thank them for their
dedication to improving the safety, security, sustainability and efficiency of
Canadian transportation," said Mr. Lapierre. "These awards recognize the
outstanding contribution millions of Canadians make to this sector each and
every day."
"The Transportation Association of Canada is proud to recognize the
achievements of today's pioneers and leaders in the transportation industry,"
said Mr. Johnstone. "This awards program supports our mission of promoting safe,
efficient, effective and environmentally and financially sustainable
transportation services in support of Canada's social and economic goals."
The three awards presented this year are:
The Transportation Person of the Year is awarded to an individual who has
assumed leadership roles that have contributed to the improvement or advancement
of the transportation industry.
Mr. Dan Doyle of Burnaby, British Columbia, former Deputy Minister of the
British Columbia Ministry of Transportation, was honoured for his tremendous
contributions to the transportation industry over a long and successful career
with the ministry. Mr. Doyle has spent his whole working life in transportation.
After graduating as a civil engineer from the University of British Columbia in
1969, he joined the British Columbia Department of Highways as an engineer in
training and stayed with them until he retired as Deputy Minister of the renamed
Ministry of Transportation in June 2005. He worked in all aspects of
transportation, from engineering to administration, worked in all of the regions
of the province and even participated in obtaining the 2010 Olympic and
Paralympic Winter Games for Vancouver and Whistler. He is a past winner of Queen
Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee Medal, the Lieutenant Govenor's Award for
Excellence in the Public Service, and the Builder of the Yellowhead Award.
The Award of Excellence is conferred on up to two individuals who have made
outstanding contributions to the betterment of the transportation industry over
several years in areas such as safety, sustainable development, technology,
education, policy or corporate development.
For 2005, awards were presented to Dan Di Tota and John Lawson, both of
Ottawa.
Mr. Di Tota, the national director of Operation Lifesaver, a national public
education program sponsored by the Railway Association of Canada and Transport
Canada, received this award for his work on this national program. Its goal is
to reduce the needless loss of life, injuries and damages caused by collisions
at highway/railway crossings and train/pedestrian incidents. His leadership on
this initiative, includes the development of a mobile classroom which travels
around the country; training packages for emergency responders, school bus
drivers and professional truck drivers; and a community trespass prevention
guide. Mr. Di Tota is a former locomotive engineer for Canadian Pacific Railway
and a graduate of the railway's executive learning program. He is also a member
of the Direction 2006 executive and chair of the education committee.
Mr. Lawson, who retired from Transport Canada in April of this year, was
recognized for more than three decades as one of Canada's most reputable
transportation economists. He has a bachelor of arts degree, with an honours in
economics, from the University of Manchester, a master's degree in economics
from McMaster University and a master's degree in transport economics from the
University of Leeds. During a long career with Transport Canada, he served as
senior research officer for the Royal Commission on National Passenger
Transportation and director of research for the Canada Transportation Act Review
panel, among many other accomplishments.
The Award of Achievement is conferred on up to two individuals who have
achieved positive and measurable improvements of significant and enduring
benefit to transportation through innovation and initiative on a particular
project or program.
Milton Carrasco of Richmond, British Columbia, president of Transoft
Solutions Inc., received this award for the development of innovative software
that has revolutionized the way engineers do their work. Mr. Carrasco has more
than 20 years of consulting experience in the field of transportation
engineering. His software, AutoTURN, a vehicle simulation software used to help
design intersections, roundabouts and loading facilities, is used by
transportation engineering organizations in Canada and more than 80 other
countries. Mr. Carrasco holds an honours degree in civil engineering from the
University of Southampton and a master's degree in engineering from the
University of Calgary.
Launched by the Transportation Association of Canada and supported by
Transport Canada, this awards program is a continuation of the National
Transportation Week awards program, which concluded last year.
The awards were presented at the closing banquet of the Transportation
Association of Canada's annual conference meeting in Calgary, which was held
from September 18 to 21, 2005.
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Contact:
Irène Marcheterre
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister, Ottawa
(613) 991-0700
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca.
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