MADD
Mothers
Against Drunk Drivers
Official
Opening of the Western Regional
and the Edmonton & Area
Chapter Office
Speaking
Notes for the Hon. David Kilgour
Thursday
November 15, 2001
Edmonton
I
would like to thank today’s
organizers, Eloise Lakie,
President and Louise Knox,
national President, for inviting
me to join all of you in officially
opening of the Western Regional
and the Edmonton & Area
Chapter Office.
MADD
Canada is a non-profit grassroots
organization with chapters
and community action teams
across the country. Each one
is run by a set of volunteers,
including mothers, fathers,
friends, business professionals
and experts in the drunk driving
field.
MADD
Canada's aim is to heighten
awareness about the dangers
of impaired driving, to offer
support services to victims,
and to save lives. Driving
while under the effect of
alcohol or other drugs is
irresponsible and intolerable.
Indeed, as a prosecutor for
10 years, I felt the entire
justice system was there to
deal with the consequences
of alcohol and other drugs.
MADD aims to save lives by
alerting the public to these
damaging and deadly effects.
It
is an unfortunate reality
that in an era where we are
achieving more as a society
than ever before, MADD must
continue to remind us of the
dangers inherent in drinking
and driving. The fact remains
that, with 125 Canadians seriously
injured each day as a result
of impaired driving, we have
a long way to go - a very
long way.
Edmontonions will benefit
tremendously from the presence
of this new office. This centre
will allow MADD to transmit
its important message and
initiate outreach programs
to more students, teachers
and parents throughout our
region.
In
this year of volunteer appreciation,
the importance of work by
the volunteers involved with
MADD across our nation cannot
be overstated. The dedicated
individuals who have committed
their time, energy and financial
resources to this cause are
not only providing a vital
and significant public service,
they are ultimately helping
to save lives.
Approximately
48 chapter offices representing
more than 5,000 members across
the country will distribute
more than 4-million ribbons
this year to mark MADD’s annual
red-ribbon campaign. These
numbers reflect an effective
and extremely well run organization
that is growing in size and
strength each year.
On
behalf of the Government of
Canada and Edmontonians generally,
I would like to thank and
congratulate everyone at MADD
this morning on the opening
of your newest office. Your
tireless efforts and commitments
must be applauded.
Please
keep up the good work!
