MADD chapter getting set to launch its red ribbon campaign
by Tina Comeau
The Vanguard
October 27, 2008

The local chapter of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) will be launching its red ribbon campaign on Nov. 1 and it is hoped – particularly as the upcoming holiday season approaches – that the ribbons will be a visual reminder for people not to drink and drive.

This will be the fourth year the local chapter has participated in Project Red Ribbon, which is a national awareness campaign aimed at getting Canadians to commit to driving safe and sober.

According to MADD, the campaign – in which people voluntarily participate by tying a red ribbon onto their vehicles – is also aimed at driving home the message that deaths and injuries resulting from impaired driving are needless tragedies and completely preventable.

Brenda Adams, president of the local MADD chapter, says since the chapter was formed four years ago, local awareness about the red ribbon campaign has increased. One example of when the chapter hands out of the red ribbons is during the annual Christmas parade. But Adams says they now also hand them out during the Seafest parade in the summer because people are asking for them.

“I keep ribbons with me all the time because when I go into malls I have people saying to me, do you have ribbons on you? It’s an awesome thing,” she adds.

The red ribbon launch will take place at the Yarmouth Mall on Saturday, Nov. 1 at noon. From noon to 2 p.m. there will also be a MADD display. Representatives of the RCMP, the fire department and paramedics will be present at the launch, as will a representative from MADD’s Atlantic chapter.

Aside from preparing for the ribbon campaign, the local MADD chapter has been promoting a poster contest in some schools in the region. The theme of this national poster contest is: You have the power to stop impaired driving.

The posters that win locally will be made into placemats that Adams hopes will be displayed in some local restaurants. All local entries will also be forwarded to the national component of the contest. The local chapter hopes to announce their poster winners during their red ribbon launch.