Victims of impaired driving to be immortalized on monument

Families of victims of impaired driving now have the chance to have their family members’ names immortalized in a monument. Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada is erecting a monument to remember the victims. The Victim Services Manager for the Western Region, Gillian Phillips, says that the reaction from families of the victims shows that this small act of kindness can go a long way.

MADD Alberta Chapters and Community Leaders will have their first vigil on September 18th of this year to honour victims of impaired driving. There are 30 names submitted so far for the Alberta Memorial Monument that is located at the Spruce Grove Police Department.

Phillips says that there is a limit of 200 names on the monument front to back, “If we run out of room, then we will build on to the sides of it.”

“That name is there forever. We make it into a beautiful little sanctuary place. So families can go any any time of the day and year,” adds Phillips.

Phillips lost her own daughter to an impaired driver, and her name will be going on to the Alberta Memorial Monument. “I know how important it is for families to have that recognition. It’ll be there for years to come,” says Phillips.

There is criteria to have a loved placed on to the monument. Phillips says there needs to be proof of impairment, which includes court documents, police reports, and even news articles, “When they reach out, I help them through that process with finding out that information.”

The deadline for submission of names is August 26th.

For more information, you can get in contact with Gillian Phillips through email gphillips@madd.ca