The MADD Canada Prince Albert chapter announced Karen Anthony-Burns as their MADD Canada Volunteer of the Year over the weekend.
“I was absolutely shocked. It was just so wonderful to be [recognized],” said Anthony-Burns when asked about her reaction to receiving the award. “We don’t do the work to be recognized for it. We do it as a way to survive something really horrible that happened in our life and try to prevent that from happening to anyone else. It’s just such an honor to receive this award.”
Anthony-Burns, the chapter’s treasurer and volunteer with the organization, has dedicated more than a decade of her life to advocating for impaired driving prevention after a tragic incident that cost her son, Daniel’s life 16 years ago.
“We lost our youngest son in an alcohol-related crash in the city here. He was struck by someone who had been in the bar and he ended up dying of his injuries the next day,” she explained.
Founded in 1989, MADD, abbreviation for ‘Mothers Against Drunk Driving,’ Canada is a volunteer-driven, national, charitable organization dedicated to stopping impaired driving and supporting victims and survivors, with roughly 100 chapters across the country. Through awareness campaigns, support services, resources, school programs, and public service announcements, MADD continues to advocate for stronger, stricter laws, harsher penalties, and effective prevention strategies against alcohol-and-drug-impaired driving.
“At the time there wasn’t a MADD chapter in Prince Albert. But I did reach out to MADD Canada and was in contact with them over the years,” Anthony-Burns said. “[Then they] reached out and sponsored us to go to a victims conference, which was just such an eye opener to see everyone who was in the same situation as us and to make all those connections.”
Since then, she has remained devoted, playing a significant role in leadership within community awareness, education, and advocacy activities.
According to a statement by MADD Canada, Anthony-Burns has built strong relationships with municipal police, RCMP, SGI, local and provincial government representatives, businesses and community partners. Furthermore, her list of community involvement is abundant, with her commitment in MADD Mobile 911 sign campaigns, Project Red Ribbon campaigns, Summer and Christmas parades, Crashed Car Awareness displays, Community booths, and more.
She said her time in the organization has been “rewarding.”
“It certainly has given an awareness to people, that I know, that my son knew, and brings that idea of having a safe ride and not driving impaired to the forefront,” Anthony-Burns said. “I really think that, for me, having that connection with people who are doing this type of work where we feel like it’s something very beneficial that we’re doing in our community for the youth and for other people, and supporting other victims.”
The Prince Albert chapter continues to contribute to road safety, public support, and impaired driving prevention, with campaigns like their Smashed Car Awareness displays on major routes like Highway 2, police and check stop partnerships, and victim and survivor support.
“I would say because every time that we go to an event, you know, we have made up these signs representing various victims from our area with a write up about them and we take those when we go to events,” said Anthony-Burns. “If I’m at the event, I make sure I bring Daniel’s.It’s really interesting to see how people want to stop, and they read and those stories that are local, really touch people and really, really make an impact. Even 16 years later, I still have contacts and see people who knew Daniel, and they come up, and they tell me that and they read that, they have a conversation. So, it certainly opens the door to having a lot more conversations in the community.”
Through donations from local businesses, community members, and organizations, funds raised continue to support MADD’s programs—initiatives that Anthony-Burns said are important and the community needs.
“The numbers in Saskatchewan are very high. We just lost a beautiful young woman in Shellbrook in the past two weeks. Last year in our city, we lost a young woman in an impaired crash. Until those stop, there’s a need,” she said.
As reported by the RCMP in 2025, the service has recorded a 10-year record high with 113 serious and fatal motor-vehicle collisions involving drug or alcohol impairment.
“There’s always a choice that can be made and the person who’s driving impaired is making that choice. You can choose to not,” Anthony-Burns said. “the devastation that’s caused to everyone’s lives who are impacted and whether, if you’re the person who has caused that death, that’s a huge thing in your life to live with too. Even the people who witness a tragic, tragic event like that, you know, it’s a real traumatic experience for them as well.”
Going forward, Anthony-Burns remains motivated in her work and advocacy with the organization.
“We see there’s a need and it’s very rewarding to go out and to bring the information to other people and it takes a long, long time to make some of these kinds of societal changes. It doesn’t happen quickly [but] we slowly see improvements in different areas,” she said.
Those interested in being involved or supporting the MADD Canada Prince Albert chapter are encouraged to visit their website.
“If we can save another young person—isn’t that wonderful? Prevent another family from having to go through all the pain and the trauma that goes along with losing a child or losing another loved one,” Anthony-Burns said. “If you can prevent that, that’s a wonderful thing.”
