Gerald Marshall, a mentor to many, believed hard work and dedication would lead to success. His legacy of love for learning, dedication to hard work, and passion for giving back shaped the core values of his family's business.
In 2006, after Gerald's passing, Marshall Truck & Trailer Repair Ltd. and the Marshall Family committed to financially supporting the Gerald Marshall Centre for Transportation's construction to enhance the College's Truck and Coach Apprenticeship program, as a lasting tribute to their father, who was the founder and owner of G. Marshall Transport Ltd.
With investments of almost $3 million, the Marshall Family's support is continuing to transform the Stoney Creek Campus and skilled trades programs at Mohawk College.
On May 14, three generations of the Marshall Family, which includes several alumni, and Mohawk students, faculty and staff gathered at the Gerald Marshall Centre for Transportation at the Stoney Creek campus to honour and celebrate Marshall's remarkable legacy.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the naming of the transportation training centre in honour of Marshall.
Mohawk President Paul Armstrong thanked Marshall's children, Linda, Jo-Anne, Cindy and Wayne, their children and grandchildren for their leadership and for their continued commitment to skilled trades education and learning.
"Your family's investment in Mohawk has helped position us to be the largest trainer in Ontario and one of the largest trainers in skilled trades in the country," President Armstrong said. "We are a leader in solving the skilled trades workforce crisis."
Armstrong said the Truck & Coach apprenticeship program offered in the transportation centre, for example, now has 240 apprentices enrolled and a wait list.
Your support is enabling us to give our students the best learning experiences. We are building capacity in demand-led industries through micro-credentials and meeting urgent workforce needs through upskilling and reskilling.
President Paul Armstrong
The Marshall Family knows first hand how essential skilled tradespeople are to the success of the family's businesses and how they contribute to strong communities. At the celebration, they met Truck & Coach student Brendan Robinson, who won a gold medal as one of 51 Mohawk students who participated in the recent Skills Ontario 2025 postsecondary skilled trades competition.
"Your support is enabling us to give our students the best learning experiences," said President Armstrong. "We are building capacity in demand-led industries through micro-credentials and meeting urgent workforce needs through upskilling and reskilling."
The Marshall Family investments are inspiring others to give, Armstrong said, noting the Schulich Foundation and the Canerector Foundation have created new scholarship programs to attract strong students for skilled trades training. Philanthropic support is also advancing welding education at Mohawk.
The transportation training centre is based at Mohawk's Stoney Creek campus, within the Marshall School of Skilled Trades & Apprenticeship, which is also generously supported by the Marshall Family.
Mohawk is one of the largest trainers of apprentices in Ontario, with 4,500 apprentices and more than 2400 postsecondary students enrolled in 30 programs. At the Marshall School, students get hands-on training in traditional skills while integrating emerging technologies. Whether learning construction, advanced manufacturing, automotive service, welding, electrical wiring, or electric vehicle and smart mobility training, students benefit from expert faculty and practical workplace experience. They also complete the in-school education required to become qualified journeypersons in Ontario.
Celebrations marking key anniversaries of the Marshall Family's exceptional gift in support of the Marshall School of Skilled Trades & Apprenticeship will take place in the near future.
