WOMEN DRIVING CHANGE The voice of women involved in the Canadian trucking industry. PAGE 14 SPRING 2023 | ISSUE #3 Canada Post Mail Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 Read and share ! Pass your copy to a colleague! Proud contributors: Practicing what you preachWomen Driving Change Magazine // 5 CONTENTS SPRING 2023 | ISSUE #3 ON THE COVER PRACTICING WHAT YOU PREACH Learn how Polaris Transportation Group is advancing equal-opportunity hiring, training, and advancement for women in the industry. EMPOWERED, WITH SHELLEY WALKER, WOMEN’S TRUCKING FEDERATION OF CANADA The future is ours for the making SOLUTIONS, BY MIKE MILLIAN, PRIVATE MOTOR TRUCK COUNCIL OF CANADA Funding available for entry and job level training in the transportation industry FEATURES ELD enforcement: Coming to a province near you A deliberate decision to hire women ON THE ROAD WITH… Nikki Rogers, Walmart Fleet BENEATH THE HOOD WITH… Dayna Gillis-Lynds, Nova Scotia Community College BEHIND THE SCENES WITH… Tina Capobianco, J D Factors INDEX TO ADVERTISERS 14 08 10 18 23 29 27 32 34 IN THIS ISSUE 14 18 2729 Cover shot: Laura Muir (who is in the middle of the cover photo) is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Polaris. She is working hard to achieve Polaris' vision to establish an inclusive work environment where qualified candidates and employees of any gender can thrive. Photo provided by Polaris Transportation Group, and taken by Stephanie Brajkovich.6 // www.womendrivingchangemagazine.ca PUBLISHED BY: Matrix Group Publishing Inc . Return all undeliverable addresses to: 309 Youville Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R2H 2S9 Toll-Free Phone: (866) 999-1299 Toll-Free Fax: (866) 244-2544 sales@matrixgroupinc.net / www.matrixgroupinc.net Canada Post Mail Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 President & CEO Jack Andress Operations Manager Shoshana Weinberg | sweinberg@matrixgroupinc.net Senior Publisher Jessica Potter | jpotter@matrixgroupinc.net Editor-in-Chief Shannon Savory | ssavory@matrixgroupinc.net Senior Editor Alexandra Kozub | akozub@matrixgroupinc.net Editors/Social Media Managers Jenna Collignon, Paul Adair, Kaitlin Vitt Finance/Administration Lloyd Weinberg, Nathan Redekop accounting@matrixgroupinc.net Director of Circulation & Distribution Lloyd Weinberg | distribution@matrixgroupinc.net Sales Manager – Winnipeg Neil Gottfred Sales Manager – Hamilton Jeff Cash Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Account Executives Colleen Bell, Rob Gibson, Jim Hamilton, Scott Hendren, Frank Kenyeres, Sandra Kirby, Cheryl Klassen, Flora Korkis, Charlie Langsford, Andrew Lee, Brian MacIntyre, Caitlin Nakamura, Jaime Schroeder Advertising Design James Robinson Layout & Design Cody Chomiak ©2023 Matrix Group Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Printed in Canada. Email sales@matrixgroupinc.net to request a Media Kit. Check out the guest blog online from the Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada, which talks about the latest Canadian Census data that indicates from 2016 to now, there has been less than a one per cent gain of female professional truck drivers. https://womendrivingchangemagazine.ca/blog If you have a story idea, reach out to editor@matrixgroupinc.net. We’re looking for women to feature in future issues – drivers, mechanics, dispatchers, managers! Our team of story tellers are amazing at making even the shyest of interview subject comfortable in telling their story. We’d love to tell yours! Last, but not least, if you have a general story idea you think we need to cover, please reach out. We’d love to hear your suggestions and work together on bringing it to life. YOUR ARTICLES PUBLISHED! www.womendrivingchangemagazine.ca www.facebook.com/women-driving-change-magazine https://twitter.com/WomenDrivingMag Look for this symbol throughout the digital magazine to click directly to online resources. YOUR PHOTOS PUBLISHED! Women Driving Change wants to showcase the Canadian trucking industry and the hard-working women who are driving, dispatching, repairing, manufacturing, managing, selling, marketing, and running the shop! Your photos could be included in an upcoming issue of Women Driving Change and who knows – it might even end up on the cover! Email ssavory@matrixgroupinc.net with a sentence or two describing the shot, where it was taken, who we’re seeing, and the person / company that needs photo credit. This is a GREAT way to appreciate your staff and showcase your company in a magazine that is mailed Canada-wide. Women help make the wheels roll round. Let’s give them the recognition they deserve! PROUD CONTRIBUTORS: T he Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada The Private Motor Truck Council of Canada8 // www.womendrivingchangemagazine.ca speaker, delivered an excellent keynote address that talked about creating the right mindset to overcome all obstacles. The Northern Academy of Transporta- tion Training (NATT) also unveiled the newest trailer in the #KnowHumanTraf- ficking campaign. It is the first trailer in Northern Ontario and accompanied an excellent panel discussion about human trafficking and what our indus- try is doing to help #EndHumanTraf- ficking in Canada. With Spring comes industry confer- ences. I would like to encourage every leader to bring someone new to the next conference they attend. We can all benefit from fresh perspectives, and you may be surprised by what they can teach you! The trucking sector will reap many rewards if current leaders start working with future leaders sooner, versus later. Don’t forget to save the date for WTFC’s 6 th Annual Bridging the Barriers conference, September 25-26, 2023, in Mississauga, Ontario. Vroom vroom – it’s also soon time for truck show season! Chrome, chicken lights, and diesel smoke. It’s the high- light of the year for many drivers! Being able to support our favourite causes while spending time with our trucking family is so incredibly rewarding. The generosity of our industry to charities never ceases to amaze me. Thank you to everyone who gives back to your local communities and beyond. I look forward to seeing more of you attending these amazing shows throughout the summer months. As an organization, we are also actively working to ensure the safety of professional truck drivers across the sector. From ensuring there are safe parking areas, to high-level training standards, to accessible washrooms, WTFC is working hard alongside the government to bring about change he Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada (WTFC) is very happy to be includ- ed in each edition of Women Driving Change magazine. The impor- tance of this publication can be felt throughout the industry. As an organiza- tion that is continually trying to improve the representation of females in this sec- tor, it is welcoming to see Women Driv- ing Change showcase the important role women play. This publication is so cru- cial to expanding the number of women who work in all facets of the trucking industry. The Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada is a network of women/men driven to empower, assist, and men- tor women throughout the sector. We are a not-for-profit, membership driven organization with a huge support team throughout Canada. Our motto is In the Office, Under the Hood, or Behind the Wheel. We’re all pieces of the puzzle – we support ALL women/men working in the industry. The trucking industry active- ly works with WTFC to highlight the importance of diversity, equity, inclu- sion, and accessibility across all com- panies, everywhere trucks are driving. As an organization that is energeti- cally engaged in government conversa- tions, both provincial and federal, we are always at the table expressing the importance of women and their contri- bution to the industry. We recently attended a conference hosted by the Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario (TTSAO). Tech- nology in training, using simulators, and advanced techniques in facial rec- ognition were just a few of the topics covered. Dr. Paul Artale, a professional Shelley Walker EMPOWERED WOMEN’S TRUCKING FEDERATION OF CANADA: BOARD OF DIRECTORS Here is the phenomenal team who actively works to support the impor- tance of the Women’s Trucking Fed- eration of Canada. CEO Shelley Walker EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Samantha Clarke Johanne Couture Sylvie Nederpel DIRECTORS Caroline Carter Cassandra Chumber Deborah Gee Margaret Hogg Sukhdeep Kang Sud Malhotra Joanne Millen Carol Pritchard Jennifer Slipiec Fiona Stone ONLINE: www.womenstruckingfederationofcanada.net FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/WTFC2015 TWITTER: https://twitter.com/WTFC7 INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/wtfc2015 LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/company/women-s- trucking-federation-of-canada DIGITAL CONNECTIONS T The future is ours for the makingWomen Driving Change Magazine // 9 regarding these aspects of the industry. We promote the importance of the occu- pation throughout Canada; therefore, we need to step up and promote safety relat- ed to the occupation as well. WTFC wishes to thank all the advertis- ers who have supported this publication. The interest that is being shown in the promotion of welcoming women is phe- nomenal! It is so important to the growth of our sector that we all continue to work together to make the trucking industry a diverse and welcoming environment for everyone. Thank you for your interest in the trucking industry and for taking the time to read this issue of Women Driving Change magazine. Shelley Walker Chief Executive Officer Women's Trucking Federation of Canada Join WTFC for the 6th Annual Bridging the Barriers educational seminar and networking event. With a diverse group of keynote speakers and front-line panelists, this event will dispel myths and raise awareness about industry challenges and successes. The overall is to bring all areas of the industry together in one space, from the front line, to safety, up to and including senior decision makers and government officials. I would like to encourage every leader to bring someone new to the next conference they attend. We can all benefit from fresh perspectives, and you may be surprised by what they can teach you! The trucking sector will reap many rewards if current leaders start working with future leaders sooner, versus later. All Roads Lead to Mississauga! The 6th Annual Bridging the Barriers Conference September 25-26, 2023 Sponsorship opportunities are available! Contact Shelley Walker at shelleyu@wtfc.ca for details. Mark your calendar now and visit www.womenstruckingfederationofcanada.net often for updates.Next >