On March 20th, 2019, Red River College honoured the philanthropic generosity and global legacy of Jan den Oudsten, Founder and past president of New Flyer Industries Ltd., by officially renaming its Heavy Equipment Transportation Centre. The 60,000-sq.-ft. training and research facility will now be proudly known as the Jan den Oudsten Vehicle Technology & Research Centre (VTRC).

Jan is a celebrated pioneer in Manitoba’s vehicle research sector and his contributions have made an impact around the world during his more than 50 years of service. His vision for low floor designed buses became an industry standard, ensuring all passengers, including those with significant mobility challenges, are able to travel on regular transit services in cities across the  continent.

On March 21, den Oudsten was also recognized and honoured with the 2019 Pioneer Award from the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters – Manitoba.