JDSmith 100-year - Centennial Celebration Event - 2019
JDSmith held a monumental bash to celebrate this proud company’s 100 years in business. JDSmith transformed its head office property into an exhibition grounds. Parking attendants greeted families as they arrived and handed out swag bags and a schedule of events consisting of a Kids Zone with fun rides and events for all ages; a Food Zone with food trucks serving up specialty meals and deserts plus wicked barbeque stations; a 200-person Tented Zone for eating, resting and socializing; a Centre Stage for the keynote address and guest speakers; a Photographer Zone for family photo's or pictures by the old Rugby Truck, retro gas pumps and 100-year timeline banners; a Dunk Tank where employees and their families lined up to take aim and dunked Scott, Brian, Jason and numerous senior staff; guided tours through the head office area where 100-year recognition awards and dozens of industry letters were on display expressing appreciation and congratulations from business partners, industry associations, and government.
President & CEO Scott Smith said “I want to thank my (late) father, who I’m sure is bursting with pride for all of us today. His passion for JDSmith was legendary,” Scott was joined by his uncle Jack, brother Brian, sister Sue wife Kathy and nephew Jason at the celebration. The company planted its roots in World War I, when John D. Smith and his uncle started a freight cartage business with two trucks called Bennett and Smith. Today, the family-run company has grown into an industry standard bearer for warehousing, commercial transportation and logistics management and is one of the leading voices at the Ontario Trucking Association and Canadian Trucking Alliance.
Scott Smith got his start in the family business about 45 years ago when he accompanied his father, Doug, to work on Saturday mornings to work in the warehouse. People always ask, ‘how do you last for 100 years’,” Scott credited his father and uncle Jack who laid the strong foundations for quality and effort and integrity – as well as kindness and compassion for employees. “Secondly, it’s the people in front of me today and those that came before you … as long as I can remember, without you, we’d be average at best.” “I often tell potential clients ‘we don’t want to just be your provider, we want to be your strategic advantage. All of you help make that possible.” OTA president Stephen Laskowski said the company’s contributions and leadership in the Ontario and Canadian trucking industries over the last century have been invaluable.