MADD Canada’s Holiday Wish sent with Sobering Message
For many families, the holidays are times to reflect on what could have been

Leading up to Christmas, Margaret Miller thinks a lot about her son, Bruce, and the fact his name is not on her shopping list. Yet, Margaret knows Bruce will definitely be with the Miller’s on Christmas Day – in their hearts and in their memories.  The tragedy of this situation is that Bruce will not be around the tree to share the holiday with his sisters and family members because he was killed three years ago in a horrific impaired driving crash.

Impaired driving has torn this family apart, and like so many other families in our country, left them during holidays to reflect on what could have been. Now, Margaret is the National President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD Canada) and she shares a few of her personal thoughts in a media file just posted on the MADD Canada website:  www.madd.ca.

 “Our holidays will never be the same without Bruce,” says Margaret. “In his spirit, I would like to extend a holiday wish to all Canadians for a happy and safe Christmas and New Year’s. I hope and pray that all are safe with their travels and that everyone makes a solemn, personal commitment to drive sober.”

“We hope our reflections will make people think twice over the holidays. Put keys away if you are drinking. The holidays should be a time of joy and family celebrations. We should be making fond memories, not ones that will haunt you,” says Margaret.

“So, our message is ‘Don’t drive while impaired.’ Don’t get into a vehicle with someone who is impaired. Don’t let your family and friends drive after consuming alcohol. If you drink, arrange a ride, take a taxi, stay over.”

Each year, MADD Canada’s volunteers share their wish for a safe and sober holiday season. There are many moving reflections from families through the years on the news archives of website.

Chantel Parkes’ 2006 page:  http://www.madd.ca/english/redribbon/holiday_wish.html
Gray Family’s 2005 page: http://www.madd.ca/english/news/pr/p05dec19.htm
Read Family’s 2004 page: http://www.madd.ca/feature_debbie.html
Alain Landry’s 2004 tribute page: http://www.madd.ca/feature_alain.html

MADD Canada is in the midst of its annual holiday awareness campaign – Project Red Ribbon. With the support of its title sponsor Allstate Insurance Company of Canada, the organization and its volunteers distribute over 4 million red ribbons across the country to remind motorists to drive sober. For more information on Project Red Ribbon visit:

http://www.madd.ca/english/redribbon/index.html

For more information visit madd.ca or call:

Margaret Miller
National President
(902) 758-5328

Related Story:

Halifax Chronicle Herald’s news article: ‘Please, please stop’

IT’S BEEN MORE than three years, but Springhill Police Chief Gary Copeland still gets choked up when he recalls the death of one of his officers in a collision with a drunk driver.

"The phone call I got in March 2004 telling me that Const. Bruce Miller was recklessly killed by a drunk driver on Prince Edward Island was one of the worst calls I’ve ever received," Chief Copeland said Thursday with a quavering voice.

"Bruce was a fine young officer with so much potential. He had it in him to be a great officer, even a leader in the policing community. He was very close to all of us on the Springhill force. His death really hurt. We still . . . have a hard time dealing with it because it was so unnecessary.

"That’s why I plead today: Please, please, stop, think and don’t drink and drive. If you did drink, don’t get behind that wheel. Find another way home. If you don’t, we will do everything in our power to catch you."

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