Supply Chain Executive of the Year

— Gary Fast —

The FMA is pleased to announce that Gary Fast, formerly Vice-President, Transportation at Canadian Tire, has been named the Supply Chain Executive-of-the-Year for 2023 by the FMA Board of Directors.

The Supply Chain Executive of the Year Award honours an individual in the supply chain community who has shown innovative leadership, dedication and commitment to the practice of supply chain management within the freight transportation and logistics industry.

Canadian Tire, one of Canada’s largest retailers, has long been a supply chain innovator. They were the first carrier in Ontario to be able to run long-combination vehicles. Following that, they developed the first 60-foot container that could be handled by road and rail.

During his time at Canadian Tire, Gary has been a leader in supply chain innovation. His group started two container stacking yards during the pandemic when space was at a premium and conventional yards were full. The pandemic also prompted Gary and his team to start chartering vessels for Canadian Tire.

Gary was instrumental in the Canadian Tire decision to take a 25 percent stake in Ashcroft Terminals. The $40 million investment in the private rail terminal in British Colombia’s interior allowed the company to gain control over another critical part of its supply chain: transloading.

Over the years, through all the different experiences at Canadian Tire, Gary said his most significant accomplishment has been building and leading teams.

After his 27-year corporate career, Gary decided on a major change and became the lessee at the Canadian Tire store in Dauphin Manitoba. We wish Gary continued success in his new career.

Inside Logistics/Canadian Transportation is FMA’s media partner for the annual Supply Chain Executive award, and the article is the Inside Logistics cover story in the December 2023 issue of the magazine. It provides details on Gary’s’ career and the outstanding contribution that he has made to one of Canada’s largest and most complex supply chains. The Inside Logistics article can be found by clicking on the red bar below.

FMA has been awarding the Supply Chain Executive-of-the-Year for three decades. The nomination process for 2024 is open and the nomination form can be found below.

Supply Chain Executive of the Year Award Nomination Form

Please use the following form to submit your nominations to us online.

Nominator Information

Nominee Information

Past Supply Chain Executive Winners!

  • 2022
    James Johnstone
    Giant Tiger

  • 2021
    Kleo Landucci
    Ashcroft Terminal

  • 2019
    Neil McKenna
    Canadian Tire

  • 2018
    Serge Carestia
    Home Depot Canada

  • 2017
    Martial Hamel
    Sanimax

  • 2016
    Jaime DeKelver
    NSC Minerals

  • 2015
    Craig Olley
    Teck Coal

  • 2014
    Tim Kennedy
    Viterra Inc.
  • 2011
    Michael Tan
    Hudson’s Bay Company
  • 2010
    Robert Bryson
    Parrish & Heimbecker
  • 2009
    Wes Armour
    Armour Transportation Systems

  • 2008
    Michael Grier
    Avon Products
  • 2007
    Claude Germain
    Schenker of Canada Ltd.

  • 2006
    Ron Carter
    Clearwater Seafoods

  • 2005
    Matt Mucciacito
    Canadian Tire Corp.

  • 2004
    Ginnie Venslovaitis
    Unilever Canada Inc.

  • 2003
    Larry Stephenson
    IMC Canada Ltd.

  • 2002
    Cyril Eckl
    PotashCorp

  • 2001
    Jim Higginbottom
    Alcan

  • 2000
    Graham Allen
    Noranda Inc.

  • 1999
    Jack McMunn
    Canpotex Ltd.

  • 1998
    Bill Cooper
    Self-employed grain farmer

  • 1997
    Bill Burns
    General Motors Diesel Division

  • 1996
    Andrew Kampf
    Seagram Americas

  • 1995
    Bill Clarke
    Hudson’s Bay Company

  • 1994
    Kevin Doyle
    Pacific Coast Terminals Co. Ltd.

  • 1993
    Terry Park
    Novacor Chemicals Ltd.

  • 1992
    Paul Jobe
    The Quaker Oats Co. of Canada Ltd.

  • 1991
    Terry Garvey
    Westar Mining Ltd.

  • 1990
    Elwood Dillman
    Scotia Investments Ltd.

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