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MADD Canada>Volunteering>Volunteers>Community Hero Recognition Program |
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Volunteers - Community Hero Recognition Program All over Canada heroic deeds are performed. MADD Canada would like to recognize individuals who have performed heroic deeds in their community. To MADD Canada, a community hero is someone who takes measures to prevent someone from becoming a victim of an impaired driving crash or rescues someone from an impaired driving crash.
The following people were recognized by MADD Canada in 2010 Harold Huestis Harold and his staff were working in a construction zone painting lines on the roadway when a car went through the construction zone running down barrels and pylons acting as barriers. One of the barrels became lodged under the vehicle and when the driver got out of his car to see what was stuck Harold noted that the driver was intoxicated. He then took the keys out of the stopped car, called the police and detained the man until they arrived. Impaired charges were then laid. Thanks to Harold’s actions, a life may very well have been saved that day. Jennifer Campbell, Carla Campbell & Rebecca Harris There are two separate incidents where these ladies called 911 and as a result, 2 impaired drivers were caught convicted. On January 13, 2009, while at a convenience store, Jennifer Campbell, witnessed a car speed into the parking area. The male driver proceeded to stumble out of the car and head inside the store. Jennifer and her mother, Carla, who was at the cash register watched the man spill his coffee, and stumble over to the counter smelling of alcohol. Jennifer called 911 and related to the police what they had witnessed. Jennnifer and Carla went to court to testify in the case. When the impaired driver realized that Jennifer and Carla had shown up to testify, he changed his plea to guilty and received an 18-month jail sentence, served on weekends and had his licence suspended for 18 months. On September 17, 2009, Rebecca Harris, the sister of Jennifer and daughter of Carla, was at a local gas station and witnessed a man stumble into the store and trip over a newspaper rack. He was slurring his words and smelled of alcohol. As he drove away, Rebecca immediately called 911. Days later Rebecca received news that the police caught the impaired driver. The driver plead guilty to impaired driving, received a $1,300 victim surcharge fine, 5 days in custody and a 12 month driving prohibition. The following people were recognized by MADD Canada in 2009 Ken Lowe Ken Lowe, a streetcar operator for the Toronto Transit Commission, noticed a smoking mangled car that had crashed into a pole. As he approached the car, he realized the driver was trying to back away from the pole he had just hit. He noticed the smell of alcohol and told the driver to turn off the engine. In order to get the driver out of the car, Ken told him that he thought the car might catch fire at any minute. He waited on the curb with the driver and called for help. The police made the arrest and charged the driver with impaired driving. Mr. Lowe was awarded the Transit Watch Employee of the month award for his courage in removing a potentially dangerous driver off the roads. Terry was co hosting a party at his Halifax home. Alcohol was served and guests were asked to have a sober driver or plan to stay the night. When it was time for guests to leave one individual insisted that he drive home even though he was intoxicated. Terry tried to persuade the guest to stay all night but he refused. Terry (who was sober) decided to drive the guest home and planned to get a cab back. The guest’s home was 40 km outside of Halifax. When Terry called a cab for a ride back, the cabs refused to come that far to pick him up. He was forced to stay the night. Although it didn’t turn out as planned, he was glad that he may have saved a life that night. Julia & David McMillan Julia, David and Jill McMillan were on the way home from shopping and ran out of gas. David went to get some gas. As he was returning to his car, only 10 seconds away, he saw another car hit his parked vehicle and flee the scene. He quickly filled up his car and followed. He saw the driver get out of his car at the nearby gas station. He confronted the driver and called for police as the driver tried to leave the scene. Luck was with him as police officers were at the restaurant eating and together they were able to stop the impaired driver, who was arrested on 4 counts, including, impaired driving, driving while suspended, and fleeing the scene. He is a 19 times repeat impaired driving offender, has 13 additional convictions for driving while prohibited and has been in prison 5 times. Larry Johnson Larry’s car was almost hit by a driver who was driving very erratically, so he called 911. He followed the female driver until she was pulled over by the police. She had a 3 year old child in the backseat. The child was taken into custody by Children’s Aid and the woman was charged with impaired driving. Her alcohol levels were still elevated from drinking the night before – almost double the legal limit! We feel very strongly that Larry Johnson played an integral role in saving this child’s life, and others that shared the roadway that morning. After drinking all afternoon, a 37 year old male walked out of a bar. At the same time, an unsuspecting motorist left his car running on the street to run into the corner store. The drunken male got in the vehicle and drove away. Within seconds, numerous citizens were calling 911 to report the vehicle weaving all over the road. Officers were immediately dispatched. Nineteen year old Troy Keegan, and his girlfriend, Virginia were leaving the mall when they saw the man slumped over the steering wheel while attempting to back the vehicle out of the parking spot. Troy tried to stop him from leaving, but he was able to speed away. Troy and Virginia got into their own vehicle and began following while at the same time speaking to the police. As the impaired driver was speeding through the parking lot, he narrowly missed two pedestrians. The impaired driver crashed into another parked vehicle, causing extensive damage. Troy ran to the passenger side of the car, reached in and tried to pull the keys from the ignition. The male began striking Troy, but he was determined to get the keys. The driver accelerated backwards, tossing Troy out of the passenger side. The driver then crashed into another parked car. Troy tried again to get the keys but was repeatedly punched. As the driver attempted to drive out of the parking lot, he drove directly towards two pedestrians on the sidewalk. Troy shouted at these people to get out of the way, and as a result, saved their lives. The following people were recognized by MADD Canada in 2008 Amanda was driving and noticed a car in her rearview mirror drive up on the curb and then swerve into oncoming traffic. After the car nearly sideswiped her, she followed the driver, honking her horn to alert other drivers. She blocked the car in a parking lot and police were called. The driver took off with pregnant Amanda in hot pursuit. When the driver crashed into a stopped car, she pulled in behind him so he could not get away. The 54-year-old driver has been charged with impaired driving. It’s great to know that we have citizens like Amanda, who care about everyone’s safety. Devin Rowland Devin and other high school students were on school bus on their way home, when the driver lost control of the bus and ran off the road. Devin sent a text message to his mother to inform her that the bus had run off the road. Devin’s step-dad Vince showed up at the scene, along with the police. The breath sample police obtained from the bus driver was three times over the legal limit, at .240. The school bus driver has been charged with impaired operation of a vehicle, and operating a vehicle over the legal limit of .08. Thanks to Devin, tragedy was prevented on that day. Congratulations!
The following people were recognized by MADD Canada in 2007 Michael Zwicker, Kentville, NS
The following people were recognized by MADD Canada in 2005 Maria Curraro, Tatiana Dib and Melissa Mignacca, Montreal, QC The following people were recognized by MADD Canada in 2004 Charlene
Oliver, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia The following people were recognized by MADD Canada in 2003 Beth Anderson, Reece Drake,
Megan Malone, Cold Lake, AB 2002 Community Hero Recipients Constable Murray Blight Ken Bursey Hana Kadri, Mary Fares and Anees Amr 2001 Community Hero Recipients Luc F. Diotte Susan Elsley Staff Sergeant Dave Mitchell (and his Canine Partner)
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