Hard work, commitment makes company a success

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"It is not easy to keep a business going. It takes hard work, a lot of struggling and patience," says Bruce Golosky of Golosky Trucking in Fort McMurray.

Golosky, who was this year's recipient of the Business of the Year Award at the Regional Aboriginal Recognition Awards, was born and raised in the Fort McMurray area. The Regional Aboriginal Recognition Awards is an annual dinner gala event in Fort McMurray. This benefit recognizes Aboriginal men and women who make a positive role-model mark in society.

Golosky who is Metis, is of Romanian, French, Cree and Chipewyan descent. He left Fort McMurray in 1971 in search of employment, and found a job as a truck driver with Barrister Pipelines. He stayed with the company for 15 years and worked his way up to a supervisory position.

"I worked all across Canada with Barrister Pipeline, and did a lot of traveling in my pipeline days," said Golosky

When he returned to Fort McMurray in 1986 along with a one of his brothers and his sister in -law, he started his own company. In 1990, he bought out his brother's share of the company, so along with his business partner, sister-in-law, Carol Golosky, they run Golosky Trucking.

"His philosophy for the company is to provide trucking services meeting or exceeding our customer needs," said Carol Golosky. The hard work and effort paid off. Together with his business partner they just bought a new trucking business in Edmonton.

"We have a good working relationship. We get along well," said Golosky. He now has a work force of 175 employees, thirty per cent of whom are Aboriginal.

The trucking company has received many safety awards from Syncrude, along with the qualified Carrier award, given by Syncrude for truck maintanance.

"Syncrude and Suncor have been excellent for helping our company," said Golosky.

"I did not have much for education, but I've worked to gain experience" said Golosky. "I really like hearing that Aboriginal people are getting their education while they are young,"

Golosky is a member of the Aboriginal Business Association, the Alberta Chamber of Commerce, and the Alberta Construction Association.

"Through hard work, dedication and commitment he is an example of how Aboriginal people are succeeding today," his Regional Aboriginal Recognition Awards plaque and letter reads.

"My parents would tell us boys to stand up for ourselves, 'if you've got anything worth saying, say it. Do not be shy. Outgrow it," said Golosky.