Christopher Rowland has won a 2007 Premier's Award for outstanding Ontario college graduate. He is one of six recipients.
His company, Equitrans Global Logistics of Toronto, which is in North York at 51 Underhill Dr. in the Lawrence Avenue and Don Valley Parkway area, helped the U.S. government distribute temporary housing in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Under the 30-year-old entrepreneur and recent Centennial College graduate's leadership, the freight-forwarding company's revenue has grown by 907 per cent over the past three years and is ranked 10th in Profit magazine's top emerging growth companies in Canada for 2007.
Equitrans acts as the intermediary between companies with goods to move and trucking companies with fleets on the road. Rowland and his team work the phones and computers in the "war room" of their North York office, connecting shippers and truckers to move freight all over North America. His firm's reputation for performance has earned him contracts with the U.S. military.
His business model brings new levels of customer service, efficiency and technology to what is commonly perceived as a rough industry.
To fully understand the logistics business, Rowland earned his AZ truck licence and drove a rig to cover for unreliable contractors.
The Premier's Awards recognize outstanding college graduates who have excelled in six categories: creative arts and design, technology, health sciences, business, community services and recent graduate. The recipients will receive their awards at a gala celebration dinner on Feb. 11 in London, Ont.
Georgia Smith, professor at Seneca College's Newnham Campus in the Finch and Don Mills area, is retiring Dec. 19 after more than 20 years in the School of Legal and Public Administration.
As well as her teaching responsibilities, Smith has been the field placement co-ordinator for students in the legal program for many years.
Smith is also a past recipient of the Association of Canadian Community College Teaching Excellence Award.
Co-worker Paula Caruso wrote to let The Mirror know about Smith's retirement.
"Georgia's range of network is immense. There is hardly anyone in the profession that she does not know of that they do not know her."
North York's Trevor Henry was in disbelief when his wife, Aimra, told him he won some money on his lottery ticket. She had asked him if she could check his ticket for him. Shortly after he heard her yell, "Trevor, you got six numbers!". His response to her was, "Yeah, right," Henry told the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission prize centre staff when he collected an Encore second prize of $100,000 from the Nov. 30 draw. Henry, 42, is a general labourer for Fellmor Electric. He and Aimra have four children. With the windfall, he plans to put a down payment on a house and "do a little bit of shopping."
The winning ticket was purchased at Bob's Variety on Keele Street in North York.
Clayton Andrew Masales, of North York, is $100,000 richer thanks to his Instant 10X Lucky ticket.
"I couldn't believe it when I discovered the win of $100,000," Masales told OLG prize centre staff in Toronto when he collected the game's top prize.
He added, "I almost dropped to the floor. I am over excited. I feel excellent!"
Masales, 23, is single, a videographer and owner of Tribute Images. With his windfall, he plans to buy a car and bank the remainder.
The winning 10X LUCKY ticket was purchased at Family Food Fair on York Mills Road in North York.