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Dr. Hook In The Community – United Way Truck Pull

As an organization, the Manitoba Trucking Association is one of the most supportive groups of community activities in Manitoba, and it gives us great pride to be part of their fundraising initiatives when the opportunity presents itself.

One of our favourite events, year in and year out, is the Truck Pull for United Way. Six teams ‘competed’ this year in groups of 10 for the top award, as full-size trucks were manpowered around the Polo Park parking lot.

The sight drew spectators and on-looks from passing traffic. It was certainly a wonder to see as we competed alongside Big Freight Systems Inc., Payne Transportation LP, Bison Transport Inc., Maxim Truck and Trailer, Cummins Inc. and defending champions Sysco Food Services.

As you may have already heard, Dr. Hook’s “Team Hooked Up” won the competition. While we were elated to share the victory with staff, we were even more excited about the money raised from the one-day event: $3,500 going to United Way Winnipeg, raised in under two hours!

We want to take a moment to thank everyone who made a donation to support this fun afternoon event and worthy cause.

Dr. Hook In The Community: Richer Roughstock Rodeo

Quick – name your favourite summertime activity that involves horses, bulls and other livestock.

If you said rodeo, then you’re thinking is along the lines of ours, and you may very well have been at one of our latest community projects – the Richer Roughstock Rodeo.

Taking place earlier this month – August 9 to 11 – the rodeo included the feature event, along with mechanical bullrides, kids activities, a social evening and plenty of other activities.

The rodeo wasn’t just an opportunity to get out in the warm Manitoba summer weather for heart-pounding action though – funds raised also had a charitable aspect. A pancake breakfast held Sunday benefited the Richer Day Care.

Dr. Hook was happy to once again be able to help in community efforts. We provided donated services of transporting bleachers to and from Richer for this important event.

We’re always happy to see the appreciation on the faces of community members. What’s important to Manitoba is, indeed, important to us.

Dr. Hook In The Community – Safeway Father’s Day Walk/Run

One of the common choruses that we hear in Winnipeg is how fathers aren’t as celebrated as mom’s are.

Think about it for a moment – Father’s Day recently passed and what did you do for dear old dad? Did you make as big a fuss, spending hours roaming Winnipeg’s shopping centres for the perfect gift and calling every restaurant in Winnipeg to find the right spot for a brunch or dinner?

More likely, your family huddled around the barbeque (which of course he was stationed at) and shared jabs at the old man before passing along a greeting card.

In recent years, however, Father’s Day has become more than just a source for steak and drinks – it’s become a time to rally around the male cause of prostate cancer research.

This has taken the form of the Safeway Father’s Day Walk/Run, benefiting Prostate Cancer Canada. Headquartered at Assiniboine Park, the event was extremely successful, raising over $529,000.

Dr. Hook was proud to be part of the Safeway Father’s Day Walk/Run as we assisted in the transport of tents, Kubotas and other items for this event. It pleases us to no end to be able to say thanks to our dads in a meaningful way.

Dr. Hook In the Community: Relay for Life

There is no other way to put it – cancer is one of, if not the most scary diseases that one can ever be diagnosed with. Over 200 different strains of cancer have been identified, ranging from prostate, to breast to skin cancer.

It perhaps comes as no surprise then that cancer research is a focus for so many Manitobans, and why the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life has become one of the primary fundraising events of the year.

As described on the Society’s website, Relay for Life ” is an inspirational, non-competitive, 12-hour overnight fundraising event that brings you and your community together to celebrate life and fight cancer. Relay has a festival-like atmosphere that your family, friends and co-workers can enjoy regardless of age or fitness level!”

Just how big is this event? 2012 saw more than $51 million raised across Canada by over 17,000 teams – a phenomenal number, no matter how you slice it.

Dr. Hook was pleased to provide our trucks to deliver gators to the Winnipeg Relay for Life, which took place on May 24. It’s satisfying to know that we played a part in making the event an enjoyable one for all participants, who all told raised in excess of $255,000!

We are extremely proud of our team and the help they gave to the Winnipeg Relay for Life event, and honoured to be given the opportunity to once again provide assistance for a Winnipeg community event.

Dr. Hook In the Community

As a follow up to our series of “In the Community” blogs, we at Dr. Hook have put together a video montage of the events we’ve been proud to be a part of in the Winnipeg community.

Dr. Hook in the Community – Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade

When a call comes from the Winnipeg community, Dr. Hook Towing answers with enthusiasm. We consider it an honour to help organizations throughout our city with their charitable projects that help others. Over course of the next few blogs, we’ll be sharing with you the stories of organizations who we’re happy to support in Manitoba.

There may be no annual event in Winnipeg that is more anticipated by children of all ages than the Santa Claus Parade.

As one would expect, the Parade was attended by thousands of Winnipeg families, with fathers and sons, mothers and daughters and children and grandparents taking in the festivities.

Being part of the Santa Claus Parade was a unique honour for Dr. Hook. As you’ve seen over the last few weeks, we enjoy taking part in activities for the community, be they public or private events; but nothing compares to taking part in the parade. It warms our hearts to have had the opportunity to join with other Winnipeg businesses and organizations for this once-a-year occasion.

Fun Fact

Did you know that the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade has been running for over a century? It’s true. The first Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade was held in 1909 and was put on by Eaton’s. Along with a parade in Montreal, it was the second in Canada, following the first Santa Clause Parade in Toronto in 1904.

Dr. Hook in the Community – Granting a Wish

As you’ve seen from our blogs and videos, Dr. Hook has towed and transported items of a variety of sizes, primarily cars, trucks and other vehicles in Winnipeg.

On occasion, we’ll be asked to help move a more unique item, say, for example, an airplane.

One of these requests came recently via Qualico Home Developments, and we were more than happy to participate.

Qualico, another fantastic Winnipeg company, had recently built a custom playhouse for a family through the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada. The Foundation, as noted on their website, “Children’s Wish is a national non-profit organization dedicated to fulfilling a favourite wish for children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. Since its inception, Children’s Wish has granted more than 18,000 wishes for children and their families and fulfills approximately 1000 wishes annually — granting nearly three wishes everyday.”

Dr. Hook Towing was more than happy to load the playhouse onto our special pink truck and deliver it to the family. It was truly a heartwarming moment, one that we were proud to be part of.

Dr. Hook in the Community – Breast Cancer Awareness

Answering the call of duty is more than just an opportunity to help a Winnipegger in need of a tow – it also gives us the chance to give back to our community and loved ones.

Such an opportunity exists for us this month.

As you may already be aware, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer currently ranks #2 in leading causes of death amongst women in Canada, accounting for 5,100 passings in 2012 alone. It is also the number one incedence rank. (All statistics courtesy the Canadian Cancer Society.)

Dr. Hook is proud to be part of the fight against this deadly disease. In October, we will have our special pink Dr. Hook trucks on the road. Each time a Dr. Hook pink truck is sent out to assist someone in Winnipeg, a portion of its revenue will be donated to breast cancer research.

So be sure to look out for our special pink Dr. Hook trucks – each time you see it, know that our work is for a good cause.

Dr. Hook Part of Convoy That Helps Special Olympics

The Manitoba Trucking Association has become known for being a true brotherhood in our province, and the kinship is never more visible in Winnipeg than at the annual World’s Largest Truck Convoy.

Taking place every September, the convoy brings together Manitoba companies in a site that is really something to behold.

Dr. Hook was proud to be part of this year’s convoy, which took place on Saturday, September 15. It was one of five concurrent convoys that took place across Canada, including events in Winnipeg, Halifax, Saskatoon, Paris, ON and Moncton, NB.

Across all cities, 351 trucks took part in the convoy and raised almost $200,000 for various charities. The Manitoba convoy alone saw 141 trucks, with more than $65,000 raised for Special Olympics.

Dr. Hook in the Community – Red River College

There’s no question – education comes at a price.

As we’ve seen recently, the rising costs for post-secondary education are not going to slow down, so the opportunity to help students out is one we couldn’t pass up.

That’s why, this past February, Dr. Hook was a sponsor for Red River College’s entry into a skills Canada Manitoba competition, which saw students in skilled trades and technology to build a modified 1933 Ford car.

The car would go on to provide valuable experience for the participating students, while also serving as a fundraiser – lottery tickets were distributed for the opportunity to own the revamped ’33 model. The work by the students was also on display at World of Wheels and at several events over the summer.

“Our motto at Skills Canada Manitoba is supporting career development through education and technology, and we’re really excited that the students are going to be able use their education and skills working on this project,” said Maria Pacella, executive director of Skills Canada Manitoba, in an interview with Red River College.

To learn more about Skills Canada Manitoba, click here.