In Canada, early October can be a time of reflection and gratitude. One of my favourite rituals at this time of year is sitting around a big table of family and friends, and reminiscing - and in particular, noting what we are each thankful for.

Looking back over 2021, something that stands out for me are the stories that members of the Petro-Canada and Suncor community shared with us and allowed us to share with PumpTalk readers. I am grateful for the generosity of these folks and proud to be a member of this community. Here are some of my favourites:

• Joe Rustad, with his Petro_Pals Instagram account, showed us how to insert a little unexpected joy into a routine task like stopping by the gas station for a fill-up.
• Shannon Wing advised us on the value of building a personal network that is diverse and encouraging.
• Helena Mazawasicuna and Melissa Tacan opened their hearts and our eyes to the beauty and power of Unity Rides, and encouraged all of us to be “heart in” towards Reconciliation.
• Andrea Decore encouraged us to look at challenges in our lives as opportunity for creativity and innovation.
• Chris Forward leads by example in bringing his true authentic self to work and to everything he does.
• Loretta Jacko and Carol Pechawis demonstrated the importance of integrating their culture into their workplaces.
• Val and Kelsey Mitchell inspired us with mother/daughter bond and showed us that even when things don’t go exactly as expected, you can still do your best.
• And Crystal Blair’s quiet determination to take care of her trucking community during the early days of pandemic inspired us to look for ways to step up and support our own communities.

Many, many thanks to this inspiring group of people for sharing their stories and for making the world a better place.

~Kate T.

For the past few years, Canadian appreciation for professional truck drivers and the invaluable service they provide has grown. We echo that appreciation through our Canada’s Most Driven contest – a driver recognition program that we hold at our Petro-Pass™ sites each spring. Every Canadian truck driver deserves our thanks, but these four drivers really went the extra kilometre.

Gaétan Laprise (Quebec)
“He is a trucker at heart.”
Gaétan was nominated because his colleagues say “trucking is in his blood.” He’s passionate about safety, respect on the road and working in eastern Canada. With a knack for mechanics, Gaétan always drives with spare parts, so he can help fellow drivers get back on the road.

Ann Marie Mckay (Alberta)
“I love my job.”
For Ann Marie, the joy and pride of trucking is in supporting Canadian workers. Every day, she drives crews to work, just north of Fort McMurray, o en stopping along the way to get them snacks. “I take pride in knowing they trust me to keep them safe on the road,” she says.

Leeann Betournay (Ontario)
“I have a whole career of accident-free miles.”
When Leeann started 21 years ago, there weren’t many women in trucking. It wasn’t always easy, but she stuck with it, because she loves the industry, the views and the people she meets along the way. With her outstanding safety record, we’re glad she persevered.

Andrew Coruzzi (Ontario)
“I strive to be the best I can be.”
Trucking for 12 hours a day isn’t for the faint of heart, but Andrew believes food is important. It’s why he continued delivering to Ontario grocery stores during the pandemic. It’s also why — when he’s not driving — Andrew cooks meals for the underprivileged.

Many thanks to these four drivers and to all the truck drivers across Canada, working tirelessly to keep Canadians supplied and our country moving.

~Braden H.

The Olympic Games are the ultimate sporting event – bringing the world together to watch athletes put it all on the line. But that's only half the story of our country’s incredible athletes. I’m here to tell you if you aren’t watching the Paralympic Games – you’re missing out on seeing some of the best competitors in the world. Too often, they take a backseat to the Olympic Games but anyone who has watched the Paralympic Games knows exactly why they deserve their own spotlight.

I’ve played basketball my whole life – I’ve always been on the taller side and can shoot a mean free throw. I’ve also followed professional basketball and occasionally caught a match or two in the Olympic Games, but I remember what blew me away were the wheelchair basketball events at the Paralympic Games. Even as a younger athlete, I knew that what they were doing took incredible skill; it was so exciting to watch! It’s some of the best hoops competition I can remember seeing, and I still hope to catch it live one day!

The Paralympic Games show what can happen when people dedicate themselves to their passion and push boundaries. A perfect example is wheelchair basketball star, Bo Hedges. He’s the captain of this year’s Canadian team and won a Gold medal at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. He credits the words from his coach, Joe Higgins – “Practice with purpose” – to remind him of all that he’s achieved and the drive that got him where he is. You can watch an interview with Bo on the playlist below.

Petro-Canada is proud to support Canadian athletes striving to represent Canada in the Paralympic or Olympic Games but who don’t yet qualify for government funding through our FACE™, or Fuelling Athlete and Coaching Excellence, program. Every year, we select 55 up-and-coming athletes and their coaches from across Canada to receive a FACE grant.

This year we are thrilled to have 24 FACE athletes competing in Tokyo in sports from Boccia to Wheelchair Rugby, including Olivia Meier who will be the first Canadian to compete in Para badminton – a sport making its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games! You can see the full complement of FACE athletes competing in Tokyo over on our Facebook page.

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will run from Aug. 24 – Sept. 5, and it’s easier than ever to catch all the action. You can watch live coverage on CBC/Radio-Canada or CBC Gem online as well as catch competitions on the Canadian Paralympic Team’s Twitter Account and Facebook Page. Make sure you tune in to cheer on the Canadian Paralympic Team!

~Allison D.

July 23rd is a big day for the 371 athletes and 131 coaches on Team Canada. They’ve trained countless hours and made many sacrifices to represent Canada at the Olympic Games, and now Canadians will come together over the next two weeks to cheer them on as they compete in Tokyo!

I’ve always loved watching the Olympic Games. When I was younger, I made sure my whole family was paying close attention and kept up to date on our athletes. I put my small chalkboard in the living room and used it to track Team Canada's progress. I made sure to add sketches, doodles and the names of athletes that stood out, which I'm sure my family appreciated. Today we have our smartphones for instant access to the results, but I think my chalkboard method would still hold up.

Petro-Canada is a long-time supporter of the Canadian Olympic Team, the Canadian Paralympic Team and the Coaching Association of Canada. Every year through the Fuelling Athlete and Coaching Excellence Program (FACE) we select 55 up-and-coming athletes and their coaches from across Canada to receive a FACE grant. These grants come at an important time for young athletes when they’re training to represent Canada at the Paralympic or Olympic Games but don’t yet qualify for government funding. Since 1988 we have given over $12 million in financial support to athletes and coaches.

We also know that even with funding, athletes can’t do it on their own. They need the support of a whole community, including their coaches and family.

Great coaches keep their athletes going through training, dedication and motivating words that stick with them as they reach for that podium. Below are a few inspiring examples.

Families are there to cheer you on, be there during the tough times and celebrate your success. As part of our Canadian Athlete Family Program, starting with the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, we implemented a ticketing program that ensured family members of athletes competing at the Games could be there in the stands rooting for their loved ones. We’re supporting families differently this year by sending cheer boxes so they can still celebrate and cheer on their athletes from home.

This year is a big milestone for the FACE program: a record 41 FACE recipients in 22 different sports are part of Team Canada. Stay connected with their journey through Petro-Canada’s Facebook and Instagram accounts as they compete in Tokyo. Good luck to them and to all of Team Canada at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games!

Contactless payment is certainly the way to go these days. Whether it’s food delivery or catching a taxi or car service – contactless payment keeps us socially distant and safe as well as often makes for a more efficient transaction.

We’re pleased that our app development team has added contactless payment at the pump to our Petro-Canada mobile app, available on both iOS and Android.

With the Petro-Canada app, in addition to starting your fuelling session at the pump, you can also:

• automatically sign in using your phone settings
• manage cards and view balances with our digital wallet
• pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or credit cards
• collect Petro‑Points™ while fuelling or in-store with the digital card
• activate a car wash from the app
• redeem your points directly in-app for eGift cards
• find a location near you

If you’re out for a drive this long weekend, stay safe and stay local. And download the Petro-Canada app before you head out to enjoy contactless payment for your fill-up.