Gordo Tufts

BScCE, ex-P. Eng., ex-FITE – has been, used to be, once (or twice, or thrice) was …

In 1965–66, while Gordo was helping the Fredericton Pee Wee “A” Red Wings ice hockey team prevail as the New Brunswick (NB) Provincial Champions, he heard rumblings of some austere, esteemed, high-minded, high-brow, high fallutin’ organization, dubbed the Canadian Transportation Research Forum (CTRF), being formed in faraway Upper Canada. He remembers dreaming he might want to aspire to become a member of such an association someday. Following graduation from Fredericton High School (FHS) and UNB with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree and several summer jobs with NB DOT Traffic Engineering Branch, Gordo had a 4+ year stint as Principal Project Officer with the UNB/Transport Canada (TC) Collision Investigation Team. In 1986, with a bow to Frank Wilson, a wink to Albert Stevens, a nod to Dave Innes, and a nudge from Barry Bisson, Gordo embarked on a fairly wide and varied career careening to such exotic locales as Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, St. John’s, Newfoundland, and Winnipeg, Manitoba (3 extremely different cultures and climates, eh, b’y ? ).

Following nearly 20 years as a Transportation Policy Consultant with the Government of Manitoba (MB), Gordo’s declared retirement date was February 2, Ground Hog Day, 2020 (palindromic 2020 0202). Prior to re-locating to Winnipeg in December, 1999, Gordo used to be Senior Transportation Policy Advisor for the Department of Transportation and Public Works of Prince Edward Island (PEI). Previously, he had been Senior Transportation Policy Analyst and Transportation Planning Supervisor for the Department of Works, Services and Transportation of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). Gordo once was a Motor Vehicle Accident and Defects Investigator with TC in Ottawa, and had been a Traffic Engineer with the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh.

Gordo completed the Senior Transportation Management Course at the Transport Canada Training Institute (TCTI) in Cornwall, ON and the Plans and Operations – Peace Course at the Canadian Emergency Preparedness College in Arnprior, ON.

Along the way, Gordo tricked a few prominent organizations and associations into admitting his ilk as a member. He has held a P. Eng. credential in MB, PEI, NL, and NB. Gordo attained the designation of Fellow in the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE). Gordo’s Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) involvement has included participation on the Council for Highway Transportation Research and Development (CHTRD), the Research and Development Council, the Multi-Modal Council, and the Aviation Standing Committee (ASC). He was/is the longest (ever) serving member of the ASC (30+ years), having represented NL, PEI, and MB at various times. He chaired the ASC for several years beginning circa 2001. Gordo served several terms as President of the Atlantic Provinces Section of ITE in the 1990s. (Two words: exit strategy, or: succession plan, or: term limits. The primary objective and constant activity of some presidencies and chairmanships is to trick, coerce, bribe some sucker to relieve oneself of the duties of the office.) Gordo was a director on the boards of the Atlantic Provinces Transportation Commission (APTC), the Eastern Border Transportation Coalition (EBTC), and a charter, founding board member of the Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals (CARSP). Gordo has been a member of the Federal/Provincial Committee on Atlantic Region Transportation (F/P-CART), the Maritime Seacoast Advisory Board, and the Manitoba Aviation Council (MAC). Gordo has also served on several and various task forces, working groups, and project steering committees under the auspices of TAC, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA), the Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety, and the Council of Deputy Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety.

Gordo’s CTRF dreams and aspirations of 55+ years ago have been greatly exceeded. He has enjoyed immensely more than 35 years association and involvement with CTRF as a Member, a Regional Rep, a Councillor, a Friend, and an Honourary Life Member. He has held several CTRF Executive offices including 3 terms as VP Meetings, organizing annual conferences in Charlottetown (2000) and Winnipeg (2007 and 2017). His tenure as granter of CTRF Presidential Pardons was 2000-01. It has been a distinct honour and a unique, wonderful, fantastic pleasure and privilege to have been the one and only, the sole, holder of the title of Clerk of the Bison Transport Debate.

With reference to the lists of CTRF Past Presidents, Honourary Life Members, and Friends, how could anyone wish for, or dream of, or aspire to better company?