NEW LOGO AND FRESH SEARCH FOR ACTS OF BRAVERY AS CANADIAN TRUCK HERO AWARD MARKS ITS 50TH YEAR
Mississauga (Ontario), April 19, 2006 - A history of the Bridgestone Firestone Canadian Truck Hero Award has all the makings of a blockbuster movie: steel-nerved and quick-witted truckers selflessly laying their lives on the line to rescue people from vehicles engulfed by fire and water or precariously perched on embankments.
It would make for spectacular Hollywood, but it's all true. And the Canadian Truck Hero Award is about to recognize this gripping reality of brave and daring deeds by Canadian truckers for the 50th year. The search for the 50th anniversary Canadian Truck Hero has been underway since last fall, and nominations are being accepted until the end of September, with this year's winner announced in November at the annual meeting of the Ontario Trucking Association.
"Since we're at about the mid-point of this year's award period, we'd like to issue a reminder to people who may have witnessed an act of heroism by a truck driver in the last six months, or who might be witness to one in the next six months," said David Scheklesky, general manager Commercial Truck Tires for BFCA. "As we have come to realize in the 50 years of this award, truck drivers across Canada are going beyond the call of duty as they travel the highways of this land."
The Canadian Truck Hero winner is awarded a significant cash prize by Bridgestone Firestone Canada Inc., along with an all-expenses paid trip for two to Toronto for the award presentation in November. The owner of the trucking company also benefits from a free trip for two to accompany his award-winning driver.
In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the event, Bridgestone Firestone has designed a bright new Canadian Truck Hero Award logo. Reflecting its contemporary design, the aureole that symbolizes the bravery and selflessness of these road Samaritans has been more deeply highlighted around the truck and the maple leaf emblem has been placed prominently on the front grille of the cab.
"We wanted to give the logo a fresh new look in this milestone year," said Scheklesky. "Reaching the half-century mark is quite an achievement in any endeavour, and as we look back on the history of the Canadian Truck Hero Award, it is indeed noteworthy that so many rescues have been made and lives saved thanks to the poise and professionalism of truck drivers in the face of adversity."
For more information on past winners, nomination guidelines, entry forms and deadline, please visit the Bridgestone Firestone Canadian Truck Hero Web site at www.truckhero.ca.
About the Canadian Truck Hero Award:
The award originated in 1956 as the Dayton Canadian Truck Hero Award better known today as the Bridgestone Firestone Canadian Truck Hero Award. The winner is selected from among nominations submitted by Canadian trucking companies, which are required to include a police statement corroborating the nominated driver's actions. The award is given to a truck driver who demonstrates courage, quick thinking and integrity in the face of an emergency.
About Bridgestone Firestone Canada Inc.:
Mississauga-based Bridgestone Firestone Canada Inc. (BFCA) is an affiliate of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT). BFCA and Nashville, Tennessee-based BFNT are subsidiaries of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. BFCA and BFNT develop, manufacture and market Bridgestone, Firestone and associate and private brand tires. They are focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to their customers in the United States and Canada respectively.
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