The Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) presented its Individual Leadership Awards in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. The transit industry awards are presented each fall to individuals who have made a major contribution or an outstanding achievement in the areas of heroism, distinguished service, excellence and W.G. Ross Lifetime Achievement.

The awards took place in front of transit leaders gathered in Niagara Falls for the CUTA Fall Conference and Trans-Expo, hosted by Niagara Falls Transit, Welland Transit, St. Catharines Transit Commission and Niagara Parks.

"Leadership takes many forms," says CUTA CEO/President Michael Roschlau. "Yes, there are the leaders by title and leaders by personality, but leadership is also found far beyond these things. It is also found in the integrity of work, the commitment to customers, the ability to act when needed most or a lifetime career of making transit better."

This year's recipients are:

Heroism Award

Michael Cook, Timmins Transit

Shawn Jeffrey, GO Transit, a division of Metrolinx

Excellence Award

Bill Fisch, Regional Municipality of York

Lawrence Hong, Community Volunteer

Mayor Hazel McCallion, City of Mississauga

Mayor Sterling "Stu" MacFadyen, City of Charlottetown

Preston MacDonald, St. Catharines Transit Commission

Paul Siller, Rocky View Bus

Distinguished Service

Ted Galinis, TOK Transit

Helen Gault, MMM Group Limited

John Hubbell, Calgary Transit

Jocelyn Leblanc, Société de transport de Montréal

Fred Wong, Calgary Transit

W.G. Ross Lifetime Achievement

Penny Williams, Transit Windsor