November 1, 2006

Alberta MADD Chapters Launch Holiday Awareness Drive
2006 Project Red Ribbon campaigns against alcohol- and drug-impaired driving

Edmonton, Alberta -- On average, each and every day, 4 Canadians are killed and more than 190 Canadians are injured in alcohol and drug-related crashes. So, each year at this time, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD Canada) launches a red ribbon awareness drive to urge motorists to drive sober when traveling to their festive parties and social gatherings.

The twelve MADD Alberta Chapters, and their community partners and sponsors, are hosting a launch ceremony for the Province on Wednesday in Edmonton.  The 2006 Project Red Ribbon Campaign marks the beginning of MADD Canada’s effort to distribute over 4 million red ribbons to Canadians. For someone to display a red ribbon on their car or tied to their keychain signals the commitment to sober driving; it reminds motorists not to drive impaired; and, it also pays tribute to the more than 70,000 Canadians who are killed or sustain injuries are a result of impaired driving each year.

Louise Knox, MADD Canada’s Western Chapter Manager:  “We hope this holiday season will be the safest on our Alberta roads and the holidays will be fatality-free as a result of impaired driving. Our twelve Chapters across Alberta, our police partners, our provincial sponsors, the Alberta Motor Association and Enterprise Rent-A-Car and our national sponsors, Allstate Insurance Company of Canada, Suzuki Canada Auto Dealers Foundation, #TAXI, Bank of Montreal, Coyle Corrugated Containers and UPS Canada, all will be doing what we can to raise awareness and remind motorists.”  

Don Szarko, Manager of Advocacy and Community Services, Alberta Motor Association:  “AMA is again stepping up its efforts to reduce impaired driving in Alberta by partnering with MADD Canada on the Project Red Ribbon campaign.  We’re asking our members to join us in this major advocacy effort.  It’s easy to ignore one voice...but we hope impaired drivers won’t ignore the voices of 770,000 AMA members and the voices of many more concerned Albertans who will speak up against drunk driving.”

Jim Thompson, Vice President and General Manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Alberta:  “MADD is an excellent organization and Enterprise is proud to be a provincial sponsor of Project Red Ribbon for the second year in a row. At Enterprise, our success is built on the support of the people who live and work in the communities where we do business. That is why we are committed to giving back to organizations like MADD Canada, who like Enterprise has strong community ties and a commitment to public safety. MADD Canada allows us to give back in so many ways, and for that we are most grateful."

MADD Alberta Chapter volunteers, police and community leaders, and representatives from AMA Enterprise and our national title sponsor Allstate Insurance Company of Canada will be present and available to media for one-on-one interviews and for photos.

For more information, or to pre-arrange an interview, call:

Louise Knox, Western Regional Manager
1-866-900-6233 ext 222

Chelsea Draeger, Western Regional Office
1-866-900-6233 ext 224

Also see:

MADD Canada's Project Red Ribbon page