Professor Robert Solomon is recognized and honoured and MADD Canada’s work showcased at International Forum

MADD Canada’s Director of Legal Policy is presented with prestigious Widmark Award for his research work on preventing impaired driving in Canada

Oakville, Ontario – On August 25th, the International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (ICADTS) presented the Widmark Award to Professor Robert Solomon at its 2007 Conference in Seattle, Washington. The Widmark is the highest honour ICADTS can confer on an individual and is presented for an outstanding, sustained and meritorious contribution to the field of alcohol, drug and traffic safety.

Professor Solomon was awarded this honour for his life’s work in preventing impaired driving.  Specific recognition was given to Professor Solomon’s role with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada, as the lead author of its core policy documents:  Rating the Provinces and Territories (2000, 2003 and 2006); Youth and Impaired Driving in Canada: Opportunities for Progress; and Alcohol, Trauma and Impaired Driving (3rd edition).

Professor Solomon also co-authored MADD Canada’s federal legislative reform agenda, Taking Back our Roads, and numerous articles on the traffic safety benefits of a federal Criminal Code 0.05% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving. 

Professor Solomon expressed how deeply touched he was to be named the recipient of the Widmark Award. “While it is a great honour to have my research recognized, I think this award is largely attributable to the wonderful collaboration that I have with MADD Canada. Knowing that I have played a role with MADD Canada in reducing the number of impairment-related traffic deaths in Canada gives me a great sense of satisfaction.”

Professor Solomon explains his working relationship with MADD Canada. “My work represents half of the policy initiative. My function is to do the research and legal analysis, and come forward with policies that the research demonstrates will save lives. The second half of the equation is the public policy work undertaken by MADD Canada. To a large extent, the credit for this success has to go to Andrew Murie, MADD Canada’s CEO.  Andrew has established on-going relationships of trust with key Ministers and government officials and these have resulted in the introduction of progressive legislation.”  

MADD Canada’s National President Margaret Miller comments that the organization is very fortunate to have Robert Solomon as its legal advisor.  “Robert has been Canada’s pre-eminent legal scholar in the field of substance abuse, and impaired driving law and policy since the 1980s.  He has been a tireless public advocate for legislative reforms to reduce alcohol-related deaths and injuries in our country, particularly among young people.  His contributions to MADD Canada, as a researcher, educator and public advocate are immeasurable.”

Mrs. Miller says, “ICADTS recognized the success of MADD Canada’s Rating the Provinces project. Tangible provincial legislative improvements have been made over the years, because of the Report Cards and Legislative Reform Agendas in the Rating the Provinces documents. We have seen real advances with respect to enhanced graduated licencing programs, alcohol interlocks, vehicle impoundment, and assessment and treatment programs.”  

“In achieving these results, Robert and MADD Canada have made a great team,” she adds.

In his professional career, Professor Solomon has served as a leading member of the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario for 35 years.  He is one of Canada’s most productive and innovative scholars in the substance abuse field. He was an early developer of comprehensive alcohol and drug policies for secondary schools. Professor Solomon wrote the first Canadian review article on alcohol-related civil liability and, since, has played a leadership role in the development of server and manager training programs across Canada.  He continues today to serve MADD Canada as Director of Legal Policy.

The Widmark Award was established in 1965 in honour of Professor Erik M.P. Widmark (1889 – 1945) of the University of Lund in Sweden. Professor Widmark’s comprehensive research work touched on all the aspects of the pharmacology of alcohol. He was among the first researchers to study in a systematic way the absorption, distribution, and elimination of ethanol in the body, which paved the way for traffic safety legislation involving blood-alcohol concentration limits.

The Widmark Award was first presented in 1965. Professor Robert Solomon is one of 28 individuals in the world to be so honoured.  Visit www.icadts2007.org for more information on ICADTS and the Widmark Award.

For more information, visit www.madd.ca or contact:

Professor Robert Solomon, MADD Canada’s Legal Director
(519) 661-3603

Andrew Murie, MADD Canada’s CEO
1-800-665-6233, ext. 224