September 8, 2006

MADD Canada and GM Canada take new show
Mind Control on cross-country tour of high-schools 

High school students in Ottawa and Windsor today got the first opportunity to experience MADD Canada's new big-screen, multi-media assembly show -- Mind Control -- on the realities of drinking and taking drugs and driving. These Ontario premieres are the start of a cross-country tour arranged and sponsored by MADD Canada and General Motors of Canada that will have the production viewed by as many as 600,000 students in the next eight months.

For Mothers Against Drunk Driving, young Canadians and alcohol, drugs and driving - is a disturbing mixture with potential tragedies that is 100% preventable. 

Canadian statistics for alcohol- and drug-impaired driving are alarming:  One in every eight deaths and injuries in road crashes is a teenager. Tragically, road crashes are the number one cause of death of youth age 15 to 19 in Canada. Young drivers (25 years of age and under) are over-represented in road crashes due to inexperience, immaturity and the fact that two out of five teens who are killed on the road have been drinking.  Male drivers account for 87% of teen impaired driving deaths and 89% of injuries, while girls are more likely to be killed or injured as passengers.

Karen Dunham, MADD Canada's National President, is very concerned with the realities of young drivers and alcohol- and drug-crashes. "We want to impact these trends and reduce the number of young drivers who are involved in impaired driving incidents. The prime objective for MADD Canada and General Motors is to take our important impaired driving message directly into high schools, and present our case through moving and powerful multi-media assembly shows."

"Mind Control brings the tragic reality of impaired driving to the big screen, speaking to young people in their own language, and with music and video clips that re-enforce a positive, responsible message about good driving behaviour," says Mrs. Dunham.

General Motors of Canada taking MADD Canada on the road

Mrs. Dunham is excited about the production's upcoming tour. "The support of General Motors of Canada gives us the chance to show this production to more young Canadians than ever before. We hope this year to have more than 600,000 students view Mind Control and our partnership with GM is making this tour happen."

Stew Low, Director of Public Relations  - General Motors of Canada said: "This year's production, Mind Control, will help provide the next generation of drivers with the information they need to make sound choices.  The critical work MADD Canada is doing to educate youth and save lives is very important.  MADD Canada has a legacy of education and support of victims of impaired driving.  While manufacturers can develop technologies that help save lives, the work of MADD Canada is important to change people's behaviour."

Tour information available on-line

MADD Canada and General Motors of Canada are taking Mind Control on tour to high schools across Canada beginning immediately.  For more information about the tour, the assembly show, and how to book the production, visit MADD Canada's website - www.madd.ca.

For an on-line preview of Mind Control in Real format visit www.madd.ca .

MADD Canada is the country's preeminent voice for impaired driving victims.  The organization is a grassroots, volunteer driven group that is active in over 80 communities across Canada. Over 750,000 Canadians support through their annual donations MADD Canada's mission to stop impaired driving and to support the victims of this violent crime.

Headquartered in Oshawa, Ontario, General Motors of Canada employs more than 20,000 people nationwide.  GM of Canada manufactures a variety of vehicles, engines, transmissions and other components, and markets the full range of General Motors vehicles and related services through 759 dealerships and retailers across Canada.  Vehicles sold through this network include Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Saturn, Hummer, Saab and Cadillac.  GM plays an active role in communities across the country with programs like GM Community Wheels, which offers a turnkey solution to the transportation needs of community agencies by providing them with GM vehicles; Saturn Kidspace is another program that assists communities in need of safe places for children to play.  To date, more than 300 playgrounds have been built as part of this initiative.

For further information visit www.madd.ca, or call:

Wanda Kristensen
MADD Canada's Director of Programs
1-800-665-6233, ext. 229
cel.   (905) 330-4632

Diane Lehman
GM Canada's Community Relations
(905) 644-3883

Also see...

Background on ‘Provocative’ Mind Control