Driven to make a difference
By JENNIFER PRITCHETT
WHIG-STANDARD
November 5, 2008

Tell that to Linda Selkirk, whose son Jordan was killed by a drunk driver nearly two years ago, and she'll steadfastly remind you that it's true that the public has heard the story all too often - tragedies still occur because the battle

against drinking and driving is far from over.

That's what motivates her to visit schools to tell her story and remind students that people die when drinking and driving are mixed.

"Many people don't see drunk driving as a crime," Selkirk said.

The statistics prove it.

Every day in Canada, four people are killed and 196 are injured because of drunk drivers. This means that for every son, daughter, mother or father in Canada who has died because of impaired driving, 49 others have been injured.

Dec. 9 will mark the two-year anniversary of the death of Selkirk's 21-year-old son, Jordan.

He was killed just a few blocks from his family's home in Brampton after he had been hanging out with friends at a local restaurant. He was riding in the front passenger seat when the 21-year-old driver lost control of the vehicle and struck a light pole. Three other people were injured in the crash.

Selkirk learned of the crash when two police officers knocked on her door in the middle of the night.

It's a nightmare that no family should have to experience, she said.

Selkirk, who has since moved to Tamworth, northwest of Kingston, said her son is with her in spirit every time she goes to a school to talk about drunk driving. She sees the work she does as a way of continuing his own feelings toward drinking and driving.

"He was very much against drunk driving ... he didn't even have a driver's licence," Selkirk said.

As vice-president of the Kingston and district chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Selkirk spent yesterday morning at the ninth annual launch of MADD's Red Ribbon campaign, a two-month public awareness blitz about drunk driving.

The ribbons represent a pledge not to get behind the wheel if they've been drinking. Each year, MADD volunteers hand out roughly 5,000 red ribbons in the Kingston area.

Elaine Palmer, president of MADD's Kingston chapter, said the campaign takes place around the Christmas holidays because of the increase in the number of parties.

"There seems to be more [drinking and driving] around that time of year," she said.

Palmer, whose son, Aaron, was killed Sept. 8, 2002, by a drunk driver, initially joined MADD to find support after his death. He was 25 years old.

Like Selkirk, she visits local schools to educate young people about drunk driving.

"I wanted to get out there to make a difference," she said.

She reminds people to plan ahead for a drive home if they plan to drink.

For Selkirk, working with the organization is a way to do her part to get the message out about drunk driving.

She's well-known in the Tamworth area, where she regularly volunteers with the Ontario Provincial Police on RIDE programs. In all types of weather, she stands along the highway with the police to thank motorists for not drinking and driving.

During her school visits, she's even given teenagers her business card and told them to call her at any time if they need a ride home instead of driving after they've been drinking.

Some have taken her up on the offer and called her for a lift.