Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in Prince Albert kicked off the 38th Annual Red Ribbon Campaign on Nov. 15 with a proclamation from the City of Prince Albert.
The campaign runs until Jan. 5. MADD Prince Albert director Karen Anthony-Burns said they launched the campaign because the risk of impaired driving is high due to the increased number of social events.
“We encourage everyone to tie a Red Ribbon,” she said. “You can get them by contacting maddprincealbert@gmail.com. This is the 38th Annual Project Red Ribbon campaign across Canada and we are proud of that nationwide effort to remind Canadians about the dangers of impaired driving during the holiday season.”
This is the 11th year that Project Red Ribbon has been in Prince Albert Anthony-Burns said the awareness project continues to be important.
“We want to stop impaired driving, (and) we want to support victims,” she said. “Every time there’s an impaired driving incident, there are victims and we just recently had a crash in our city that resulted in a death.”
Anthony-Burns became an advocate against drinking and driving after losing her son Daniel Carter in 2010. She said it’s frustrating to see fatal impaired driving collisions still happening years later.
“This is still occurring, so it is so important for us to bring that message forward, especially with the holiday season coming, because people get together for more good times,” Anthony-Burns said.
“We’re not saying don’t get together. We’re just saying you can always make a plan because it’s not an accident.”
While holiday gatherings are a big motivator for the campaign, they aren’t the only focal point either.
Anthony-Burns said Sunday’s Grey Cup featuring the Saskatchewan Roughriders was an example of a non-holiday event where there could be a lot of drinking.
“Let’s celebrate Saskatchewan and let’s make sure everybody gets home safe,” she said.
Prince Albert Mayor Bill Powalinsky was in attendance on Saturday to proclaim Project Red Ribbon Day.
For symbolism the event was held at Beau Lac Funeral Chapel and Anthony-Burns thanked them for their support.
“They always set up for us. They have a lunch and coffee for us and for our guests. We owe Beau Lac a big, big thank you for their support,” she said.
As part of the campaign, MADD is urging residents to show their commitment to sober driving by displaying a red ribbon on their car decals, vehicles, key chains, purses, briefcases, or backpacks. The ribbons are available from Red Ribbon Boxes that will be placed at all Lake Country Co-op locations and Beau Lac Funeral Home.
Anthony-Burns said they expect other businesses will join the campaign to create awareness and fight against impaired or drunk driving.
A MADD Canada report that looked at short-term alcohol and drug-related suspensions between 2010 and 2021 showed an average of nine federal criminal charges and provincial short-term license suspensions are laid for impaired driving every hour.
Anthony-Burns said it’s important to get people thinking proactively before they go out so they have a plan to get home safely.
A large number of MADD members were on hand at the launch. The Red Ribbon Campaign urges residents to make responsible choices such as having another driver who is not impaired, using a taxi, using public transit, or planning to spend the night instead of driving home while impaired.
The event was also used to remember all those who lost their lives or were affected one way or the other by impaired driving.
The national MADD campaign focuses on the death of Rebecca Beatty, a 22-year-old Ontario woman who was killed in a collision involving a drunk driver in Oct. 2021. The accident took the lives of both Beatty and her best friend with whom she had spent the day. michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca
