Leap forward: TTSAO sets next conference date for February 29th, 2024
TTSAO’s 30th Anniversary Conference wrapped up on February 22nd, 2023; the 31st annual conference is set for Leap Year, February 29, 2024. Photo: Asafo Addai for Road Warrior News
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The Truck Training Safety Association of Ontario (TTSAO) has selected February 29th, 2024 as the date for its 31st annual conference, again at the Lion’s Gate in Brampton.
“We are going to take a ‘quantum leap’ into the future,” says President Philip Fletcher of the Leap Year date.
The date was set at TTSAO’s Annual General Meeting which was held February 21st. Fletcher presented the Association’s financial report on behalf of Treasurer George Cierpich who was unfortunately ill. TTSAO’s fiscal position is excellent, says Chair Ken Adams: “We will be around for another 30 years,” he says.
One of the key issues dealt with by the Board of Directors at the meeting was the confirmation of TTSAO’s commitment to have Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation re-evaluate the structure it uses for Instructor Certification; as President, Fletcher has been mandated to carry out the negotiations with the province and report back to the TTSAO board.
In addition to confirming this as a priority direction, TTSAO elected its Board of Directors, which included electing Lesley de Repentigny of DriveWise/KnowledgeSurge to Vice-Chair.
De Repentigny says her goals as Vice Chair include supporting Chair Ken Adams in the important work that lies ahead, with the re-evaluation of MTO’s minimum entry level curriculum standards for drivers and certification standards for instructors among the highest priorities.
“Ken is an excellent Chair and I enjoy working with him. We believe that this is an elite organization and as such, we must have elite standards for instructors,” she maintains.
“This will be a priority initiative; Philip Fletcher is doing a great job for TTSAO and I am sure he will be very effective working with MTO on this.”
Lisa Arsenau of Staebler Insurance presented the Board with a summary of the past year, and also a report covering the past 4 years, in which TTSAO established Pre-Qualification test for the admittance of new members. TTSAO conducted 30 Pre-Qualifications in that time and admitted 19 new members, as 63 per cent acceptance rate.
“This rate is looked upon favourably by the Board,” points out Fletcher. “We don’t want schools who are marginal, and we do want to keep admitting schools that can maintain our standards.”
TTSAO’s 2023 Executive Directors
Ken Adams, Crossroads Ottawa
Vice Chair: Lesley de Repentigny, DriveWise/KnowledgeSurge
Treasurer: George Cierpich, Metro Truck Training
Past Chair : Yvette Chair: Yvette Lagrois, Ontario Truck Training Academy
Board Members at Large
Matt Richardson, KRTS
Raj Walia, Trukademy
Jack Lochand, Alpine
Sean Essner, Modern Truck Training
Ray St. Jean, Northstar Truck Training
