A Daughter’s Drive

A year after high school, Donny Kotylak started long hauling and later founded Don Ko Trucking, serving local farmers. His daughter Leanne grew up in that world – riding in trucks, helping with invoicing, and even dressed up as him for career day.

When Leanne was in Grade 11, her dad got sick: colon cancer and Stage 4 liver cancer.

Treatment meant chemotherapy every second Friday in Regina. Sometimes Leanne would drive him from Candiac, SK. On one of those drives, he said, “I wish I would have worked more.” It wasn’t regret – it was love.

Donny loved the farmers he served and the work he did. Throughout his career he drove 2 million miles, a proud accomplishment that he often mentioned.

Leanne was his caregiver while finishing high school and starting university during Covid. In April 2021, the same month as his birthday, her dad passed.

Determined to carry on what he built, Leanne took over the business while completing an Agribusiness diploma. To transform April from a month of grief into purpose, she donates a portion of every load to the Patient Care and Comfort Fund.

Her dad received excellent treatment, but it was the community support that made the difference. Leanne knows not every family has that. Through Don Ko Trucking, she’s making sure they do.