Mothers Against Drunk Driving Red Deer & District Chapter social media campaign "A Candle for...". (Facebook)

By Alessia Proietti

A candle for

MADD Red Deer holds social media campaign for National Impaired Driving Prevention Week

Mar 22, 2023 | 2:07 PM

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Red Deer & District Chapter is remembering those who were killed by impaired driving in a social media campaign this week.

National Impaired Driving Prevention Week (NIDPW) runs from March 19-25, the third week of March, to educate Canadians about the consequences of impaired driving due to alcohol, drugs, fatigue or distraction.

“Don’t drive under the influence; it only takes a second to alter lives,” said Yvette Kalan, volunteer at MADD Red Deer & District Chapter for 26 years.

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The Red Deer mother lost her daughter, Sherri-Jean Kalan, in a car crash on August 23, 1996.

She described her 18-year-old daughter as outgoing, having just graduated from high school, taking a summer job in Banff before starting college. She and another male in the vehicle were the two fatalities of the incident on Highway 1 just outside Canmore.

Sherri-Jean Kalan high school graduation photo (left). (Supplied)

Yvette says Sherri-Jean died just 10 days before her little sister Taylor’s first birthday. She says Taylor always asks if Sherri-Jean would be proud of her.

“It’s not something as a parent that you figure. That’s when you start planning college or a wedding or something; not where to bury your daughter,” she said, adding she felt disbelief and anger.

No one was prosecuted in the case.

The campaign features tributes on MADD Red Deer & District Chapter’s social media pages, where family and friends post pictures holding a candle in remembrance of their loved one who lost their life to impaired driving, with the hashtags #acandlefor. Other hashtags includes #sober, #nomorevictims, #planahead, #notanaccident, #droptheAword, and #NIDPW.

“It’s a choice to get behind the wheel when you’re impaired and for that, it’s not an accident,” said Dawn Lundquist, Social Media and MADD representative for the Crime Prevention Centre.

She listed various options that people can take to get home safely such as an Uber, taxi, and having a designated driver.

“There are so many people whose lives have been impacted by drinking and driving and it’s a ripple effect. It’s 100 per cent preventable and everyone has the power to prevent it,” she said.

She stated hundreds of people are killed and thousands are injured in impaired driving crashes each year. According to MADD, on average, four Canadians are killed and 175 are injured in impairment-related crashes every day.

“Call 9-1-1 if you suspect an impaired driver; the call you make could save a life,” said Lundquist.

Kalan says there are currently 10 volunteers for the Red Deer & District Chapter who attend their meetings, held once a month, and they are always searching for more who wish to participate. She says there are numerous volunteer opportunities such as running a booth at trade shows and other community events.

The MADD team will be present at the Shred Day event this Thursday, held at the Carnival Cinemas parking lot from 12–4 p.m., where they will be accepting donations for their organization and helping the Red Deer RCMP shred confidential documents for Fraud Prevention Month.

READ: Red Deer RCMP help residents prevent fraud by offering annual free Shred Day