Maddhamilton.com
Title
MADD - Mothers Against Drunk Driving - Hamilton Chapter
Description
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD Canada) is a Registered Canadian Charitable Organization (Reg. No. 13907 2060 RR0001) which is volunteer-driven. The organization has a National Board of Directors representing membership from all regions of Canada. MADD Canada's most recent financial statement is available for viewing at: www.MADD.ca
MADD Canada is a non-profit grassroots organization with Chapters and Community Leaders across the country. MADD Canada Chapters are run by volunteers and include not only mothers, but fathers, friends, business professionals, experts in the anti-impaired driving field and concerned citizens who want to make a difference in the fight against impaired driving. MADD Canada is unique from other anti-impaired driving groups because of our commitment to the service of victims. MADD Canada has grown from coast to coast and continues to advocate for change to make our communities safer and to provide victims of impaired driving with a voice. MADD Canada's aim is to heighten awareness about the dangers of impaired driving, offer support services to victims, and to save lives. Driving while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is a terrible crime that touches all of our lives. Impaired drivers are gambling with the safety of everyone on the road. And the payoff in Canada is deadly. MADD Canada wants everyone to realize that drinking and driving is an irresponsible, dangerous and intolerable act.
In 1990, MADD Canada was formed to create a national network of victims and concerned citizens working to stop impaired driving and to support victims of this violent crime. Provincial anti-drinking and driving groups started to appear in Canada in the early 1980's. The early pioneers were all victims, who wanted to educate the Canadian public about the human tragedies caused by impaired drivers. These early pioneers included Sally Gribble (whose group in BC received a chapter charter from MADD US), Gladys Armstrong and Pat Baril (PAID in Alberta), Margaret Taylor (CAID in Manitoba), and a PRIDE organization in Ontario. We are indebted to these individuals for their tireless work in support of victims of impaired driving and their courage to help make a difference in their communities. The PRIDE (People to Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) organization was formed in Ontario in the early 1980's. PRIDE became the catalyst in initiating discussions with MADD US to become the National organization in Canada. John Bates (who was with the PRIDE organization from its start), and other members of PRIDE, successfully negotiated with MADD US to become MADD Canada. In 1998, John Bates was awarded the Order of Canada for his long service to the anti-drinking and driving movement in Canada. John Bates has been also given the title of Founder by the National Board of Directors. This entitles John Bates a permanent position on the National Board of Directors for his long service to the movement. As it has been since the early years of PAID, CAID and PRIDE, the organization's national presence and its local contributions are a direct result of the many people who have stepped forward in fighting drinking and driving -- to make their communities' roads safer and to lend a hand to victims and their families.
