Garry Leach
Garry Leach was born in WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA in 1951 and gained his first experience with towing while working after school and on weekends in a service station managed by his father. The knowledge and training Garry gained from his father led him to become passionate about towing. In 1969 he purchased a brand new Chevy C30 with a Holmes 440 wrecker and while he did not have the full amount required for the down payment of this first truck, he convinced the dealer to accept half and give him 2 weeks to pay the balance. He immediately commenced business as United Towing Services and returned after less than a week to pay the remaining balance.
In only 6 short years he grew his operation to 55 units and secured major contracts with the provincial vehicle insurance corporation and THE WINNIPEG POLICE DEPARTMENT providing service to over 100,000 calls per year.
During his first decade of operations he was heavily involved in the Towing Division of the MANITOBA AUTOMOTIVE TRADES ASSOCIATION serving terms as a director and President. As a proud member of the association, he worked tirelessly to improve the image and professionalism of the towing industry and was instrumental in writing a draft for tow truck regulations in the PROVINCE of MANITOBA.
In 2002 Garry relocated his business to be closer to his children. From CANMORE, ALBERTA in the prestigious CANADIAN ROCKY MOUNTAINS he commenced operations that later included several other ALBERTA locations. In 2011 he opened a new terminal in GOLDEN, BRITISH COLUMBIA enabling the delivery of full services to almost 350 miles of CANADA’S major TRANS-CANADA HIGHWAY and providing services to 8 detachments of THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE throughout his operating region in the provinces of ALBERTA and BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Garry provides significant annual contributions to many community groups including the CANMORE FOLK FESTIVAL, CANMORE HIGHLAND GAMES, CANMORE MINERS ASSOCIATION, CANMORE MUSEUM, CANMORE FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE, CANMORE PARTY (Prevent Alcohol & Risk Related Trauma in Youth) Program and CANMORE CANADA DAY activities. He is a member of the BANFF/LAKE LOUISE TOURISM ASSOCIATION and the KICKING HORSE COUNTRY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE and has also served as the past President of BOW VALLEY CRIME STOPPERS ASSOCIATION and as a former member of the CANMORE ROTARY CLUB.
Garry is a founding member and current director of The WESTERN CANADA AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION which works to improve the towing industry through lobbying and initiatives. He has and continues to work towards improving several major and significantly important areas of the industry including abandoned vehicle disposal, Police towing rotations and equipment standards.
Garry, along with his son and their company have been featured on DISCOVERY CHANNEL’S television series HIGHWAY THRU HELL and they continually have provided consulting and technical contributions to the writers and producers of the show since its beginning in 2012.
In 2013 GARRY was critically injured in a work related incident and later became the recipient of The AMERICAN TOWMAN SILVER STAR for his perseverance at over coming adversity from his life threatening injuries and by returning to the towing and recovery industry. The award was presented to him at The AMERICAN TOWMAN SHOW in BALTIMORE, MARYLAND in November 2014.