WOMEN DRIVING CHANGE The voice of women involved in the Canadian trucking industry. SPRING 2026 | ISSUE #9 Canada Post Mail Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 Read and share! Pass your copy to a colleague! Proud contributors: mile after mile People first, PAGE 30 Arrow Transportation Systems Inc. is driving success with their people-first culture.Jennifer Dean is a truly extraordi- nary woman in all she does. From her day-to-day towing responsibilities with Advanced Towing, to her activities with volunteer policing, firefighting, military service, and volunteering in the com- munity, she has shown a dedication well above what is expected. One of four women working for Advanced Towing, Dean has proven to be a great mentor and role model in her field. It is not always easy for women to break into the industry, however, as Dean has demonstrated, it can be done successfully through hard work, excel- lent training, and maintaining unity within the company. Jennifer Dean has shown her dedica- tion to service in many instances, both at work and in her various volunteer roles. In her work duties, she has often shown a determination well beyond her years, demonstrating both efficiency and kind- ness towards those she is helping dur- ing traumatic situations. She has proven that she will always put her customers first, maintain open mindedness, and has shown outstanding communication skills in fulfilling her duties. This com- mitment to outstanding service has led to industry recognition for her. This rec- ognition includes her receiving of the 2023 Hero of the Industry Award, pre- sented by the Professional Towing Asso- ciation of Ontario, as well as the Tow Woman of America Award at the Florida Tow Show in 2025. In receiving the latter award, Dean became the first Interna- tional woman to receive it, as a Cana- dian. While Dean's volunteerism is impres- sive, her true dedication is her work with Advanced Towing and helping those in need. Along with her employ- ment, Dean has been involved in the local fire department and the Canadi- an Armed Forces as a Combat Engineer since 2022. She has also been serving as ADVERTORIAL an Auxiliary Constable with the Ontario Provincial Police since April 2023, and the Tillsonburg Kinettes Club since 2025, as well as a number of other activities in a voluntary role. Along with these ser- vice opportunities, Dean and her fam- ily, have helped organize a local demoli- tion derby, advocating for and promoting Breast Cancer awareness. She has been using both a pink tow truck and derby car as a platform to raise money for her campaign-fundraising initiative. So far, she has raised and donated over $10,000 to Team Shan Breast Cancer Awareness. She personally drives the pink tow truck daily at work and is the main driver for the demolition derby car. Both car and truck have often proven to be great con- versation starters both at events, and when providing towing services. As in her work, Dean’s dedication to volunteering efforts has resulted in awards and recognition. In February 2023 she received the Hugh Hitman Hunter Award from Edge Motorsports, given to a driver who exhibits exemplary sportsmanship both on and off the track. She was also presented with a letter by the Commander of the O.P.P. Detach- ment in which she serves in recognition for assisting a stroke victim. In her ser- vice to the Kinettes Club, Dean was nom- inated and ultimately chosen to receive the Kin Canada Top 30 under 30 award. This award is given to only 30 recipients from right across Canada. In all of her volunteering activities, Dean has displayed a high level of self- lessness, dedication, and excellence. Beyond the awards and recognition however, is the knowledge that what she is doing is truly making a difference in people’s lives. There have been sever- al instances in which she was able to support others in their most distressing times of need. Many of these people have been overtly thankful to her for her sup- port and assistance. Jennifer Dean continues to serve her community, always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need. She is proud of what she, her family, and their busi- ness have been able to do for the sur- rounding communities each year. She will continue this legacy into the fore- seeable future. By Rosemary Dean Above and Beyond: Jennifer Dean of Advanced Towing Jennifer Dean, CAO and Operator Advanced Auto Repair & Towing Tillsonburg, Ontario 519-688-0729Women Driving Change Magazine // 5 SPRING 2026 | ISSUE #9 ON THE COVER People first, mile after mile EMPOWERED, WITH SHELLEY WALKER, WOMEN’S TRUCKING FEDERATION OF CANADA A new Venus rising in 2026 SOLUTIONS, BY MIKE MILLIAN, PRIVATE MOTOR TRUCK COUNCIL OF CANADA Volunteer your time to reach the next generation THE FUTURE, BY KEN ADAMS, TRUCK TRAINING SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO Ensuring the integrity of our profession FEATURES Broken promises: Eliminating the Driver Inc. lies for good Still Trucking for a Cure: Driven by purpose, fueled by community Trucks for Change: Connecting carriers with communities in need Work Truck Week 2026: Where the industry comes for innovation, education, and connections ON THE ROAD WITH… Barb Pascal, Rosenau Transport/GLS BENEATH THE HOOD WITH… Kristi Ackerman, Fleet Services BEHIND THE SCENES WITH… Stephanie Fensom, Bison Transport INDEX TO ADVERTISERS 08 12 15 18 22 35 26 38 36 42 40 IN THIS ISSUE 22 30 3538 266 // 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 Publishers Julie Welsh, Christine Scarisbrick Editor-in-Chief Shannon Savory | ssavory@matrixgroupinc.net Editors/Social Media Managers Jenna Collignon, Paul Adair, Kaitlin Vitt, Rich Cowan Finance/Administration Lloyd Weinberg, Nathan Redekop accounting@matrixgroupinc.net Director of Circulation & Distribution Lloyd Weinberg | distribution@matrixgroupinc.net Sales Manager Jeff Cash | jcash@matrixgroupinc.net Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Account Executives Ana Baez, Colleen Bell, Jackie Casburn, Chandler Cousins, Paolo Cruz, Rob Gibson, Wilma Gray-Rose, Jim Hamilton, Craig Hornell, Frank Kenyeres, Brendan Kidney, Sandra Kirby, Andrew Lee, Ian MacGregor, Brian MacIntyre, Chad Morris, Lynn Murphy, Monique Simons Advertising Design James Robinson Layout & Design Cody Chomiak ©2026 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. www.womendrivingchangemagazine.ca www.facebook.com/women-driving-change-magazine https://x.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 editor@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: The Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada The Private Motor Truck Council of Canada The Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario Check out the blog from October 30, 2025, from ATS Containers, which showcased how women are shaping the container industry. 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!8 // www.womendrivingchangemagazine.ca frontline professionals, government partners, and community advocates for two days of meaningful dialogue and actionable solutions. Expect powerful keynote speakers and panelists, human trafficking information, and crosssector collaboration that pushes beyond conversation and into transfor- mation. Western Canada has always been a proving ground for resilience and this year’s conference reflects that spirit. Bridging the Barriers – Ontario Monday, September 14th and Tuesday, September 15th, 2026 Oakville, Ontario Our flagship Ontario event returns with expanded capacity and a sharp- ened focus on national alignment. As the industry navigates regulatory change, workforce shortages, and the evolv- ing needs of drivers and carriers, this conference serves as a hub for strategy, innovation, and advocacy. Attendees can expect dynamic pan- els, policyfocused discussions, leader- ship development sessions, and the kind of honest, unfiltered conversations that have become the hallmark of Bridg- ing the Barriers. This is where indus- try meets integrity where we confront the barriers that still exist and build the bridges needed to overcome them. A year of bigger stages, stronger voices, and unbreakable solidarity The theme emerging across both confer- ences and across the industry as a whole is scale. Not just in attendance or venue size, but in ambition. In urgency. In impact. Women are no longer asking for space in trucking. They are claiming it, shaping it, and redefining what leader- ship looks like. They are building safer workplaces, advocating for survivors, mentoring youth, and pushing for train- ing standards that reflect the realities of today’s roads. They are challenging out- dated assumptions about who belongs very movement has a moment when its momentum becomes unmistakable; when the collective force of lived experience, leader- ship, and courage converg- es into something larger than any single voice. For the Women’s Trucking Federa- tion of Canada (WTFC) and the thousands of women, allies, and industry champions who stand with us, 2026 is shaping up to be that moment. A new Venus is rising – bold, unignorable, and determined to reshape the future of transportation. Across Canada, women are stepping into leadership roles, challenging outdated norms, and demanding safer, more inclu- sive workplaces. They are driving trucks, running companies, shaping policies, and mentoring the next generation. They are also confronting the hard truths of ineq- uity, labour shortages, training gaps, and the urgency for cultural change. They are doing it with grit, compassion, and a refus- al to accept “the status quo.” This year, the Women’s Truck- ing Federation of Canada celebrates that unstoppable momentum with two enhanced, highimpact Bridging the Bar- riers conferences, each designed to ele- vate voices, strengthen alliances, and accelerate progress across the industry. Bridging the Barriers Western Conference Tuesday, May 26th and Wednesday, May 27th, 2026 Calgary, Alberta Our Western Conference returns to Calgary with a larger footprint, deeper programming, and a renewed commit- ment to tackling the issues that matter most to workers and employers across the Prairies and Western Canada. From safety and mental health to recruit- ment, retention, and the realities facing women in remote and rural regions, this event brings together industry leaders, Shelley Walker EMPOWERED WOMEN’S TRUCKING FEDERATION OF CANADA: BOARD OF DIRECTORS Thank you to the phenomenal team who actively works to support the WTFC! CEO Shelley Walker Founder/CEO EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Samantha Clarke NATT Safety Services Johanne Couture Contrans Tank Group DIRECTORS Caroline Carter (NS) King Freight Lines Limited Deborah Fraser (ON) GFL Environmental Inc. Liliia Iemelianova (AB) KAG Canada Hannah MacDonald-Dannecker (FL) Better Together Group Isabelle Fournier (PQ) Jacqueline McNabb-Neher (AB) TF Energy Solutions Laura Muir (ON) Polaris Transportation Group Sherry Mossman (SK) Northern Resource Trucking Fiona Stone (ON) Stone Insurance Shauna-Rae Swanson (BC) GFL Environmental Inc. E A new Venus rising in 2026Women Driving Change Magazine // 9 ONLINE: https://wtfc.ca/ FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/WTFC2015 X: www.x.com/WTFC7 INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/wtfc2015 LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/company/women-s- trucking-federation-of-canada DIGITAL CONNECTIONS in this industry and proving, every day, that skill, strength, and leadership have no gender. 2026 is not simply another year on the calendar. It is a turning point a chance to elevate the movement, strengthen our networks, and ensure that every woman in trucking, logistics, and transportation feels seen, support- ed, and empowered. Driving change together As we launch this edition of Women Driving Change, we invite our readers, partners, and allies to join us in this next chapter. Whether you are a driver, dis- patcher, mechanic, safety professional, executive, student, or advocate, your voice matters. Your experience mat- ters. And your leadership – formal or informal – helps shape the future of our industry. The road ahead is long, but we are not travelling it alone. Together, we are building a stronger, safer, more inclusive transportation sector. Together, we are raising the bar for what this industry can be. And together, we are proving that when women drive change, the entire industry moves forward. 2026 is our year. Let’s rise to meet it. The 9th Annual The 2nd Annual September 14-15, 2026 May 26-27, 2026 • Calgary, Alberta More details to come soon at https://wtfc.ca/ Bridging the Barriers Conference Bridging the Barriers WESTERN Conference Media Sponsor: Lead Pedal Media Location: Oakville Conference Centre 2515 Wyecroft Road Oakville, ON L6L 6P8 Full Day Conference: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Networking and Early Registration: Monday, September 14, 2026 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Registration and Full Hot Breakfast: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 7:30 am to 8:30 am Save the Date! Mark your Calendars! Women are no longer asking for space in trucking. They are claiming it, shaping it, and redefining what leadership looks like.Next >