MADD Canada FAQs

1. I received an email petition accompanied by a poem about a young girl killed by a drunk driver. Is this petition sponsored by MADD Canada?
2. What is MADD Canada’s (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Mission?
3. May I copy information from the MADD Canada website?
4. May I use the MADD Canada logo?
5. How can I contact my local MADD Canada office?
6. How can I start a Chapter in my area?
7. Who founded MADD Canada?
8. As a male, can I get involved with MADD Canada?
9. Is MADD Canada a prohibitionist organization?
10. How can I volunteer for MADD Canada?
11. What type of assistance does MADD Canada provide victims of impaired driving?
12. How do you decide who is a victim of impaired driving?
13. How do I get help?
14. What do you say to a victim of an impaired-driving crash?

I received an email petition accompanied by a poem about a young girl killed by a drunk driver. Is this petition sponsored by MADD Canada?

The petition circulating via e-mail accompanied with the poem titled "I Went to a Party Mom" did not originate with nor is it endorsed by MADD Canada.

Your inquiry about this petition shows that you would like to help. Browse our website to learn how you can play a part in MADD Canada's lifesaving work. If you are a MADD Canada supporter, please also consider making a donation to MADD Canada.

What is MADD Canada’s (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Mission?

Our mission is to stop impaired driving and to support victims of this violent crime.  Thank you again for your support.

May I copy information from the MADD Canada website?

MADD Canada retains the copyrights for all original materials on the website.

Materials can be used for personal, educational and/or public, non-profit activities. Persons using this site may view or print out a single copy of information if it is for their individual use and used for the purposes of research or self-education, as is accepted activities with Canadian copyright laws.

Permission is granted to copy pages provided that the reproduced pages are not modified or adapted in any way and acknowledgment is made to MADD Canada. (Reference to this web site in whole or in part should include customary bibliographic citation, including author attribution, dates, titles when available, and website address.)

Other than personal, educational and/or public, non-profit activities, no materials shall be reproduced in any form without the consent of the National Office. For copyright clearance, please contact info@madd.ca.

May I use the MADD Canada logo?

The MADD Canada logo is a registered trademark and cannot be reproduced without permission. People who wish to use MADD Canada’s logo, in any manner, must contact the National Office at info@madd.ca.

How can I contact my local MADD Canada office?

Visit the Local Chapters and Community Leaders section of our website and click on your province or territory for an alphabetical listing of Chapters/Community Leaders by city/region.

How can I start a Chapter in my area?

Contact the National Office at info@madd.ca and your email will be directed to your Region’s Chapter Service Manager who will contact you.

Who founded MADD Canada?

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 1980s. 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 1980s. 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.

As a male, can I get involved with MADD Canada?

MADD Canada is made up of men, women and young people from all walks of life. And we welcome and encourage everyone willing to join in our efforts to stop impaired driving and to support victims.

Is MADD Canada a prohibitionist organization?

No, MADD Canada believes that an individual’s decision to consume alcohol is a private matter but driving after consuming alcohol is a public safety matter.

How can I volunteer for MADD Canada?

MADD Canada is grateful for any time or talents you can give our organization, and it's a great way to help ensure the safety of your community. Our local Chapters/Community Leaders offer many volunteer opportunities through their community programs and events.

We encourage you to support MADD Canada's mission by participating in any of our programs or awareness campaigns. A donation or a gift of planned giving can also help make a difference in the lives of others.

To learn more about how you can get involved, or to make a secure credit card donation, visit the Volunteering and Donate sections of this website.

What type of assistance does MADD Canada provide victims of impaired driving?

MADD Canada offers free services, resources and referrals to help victims and their families cope with the complex emotional, legal, medical and financial ramifications.

How do you decide who is a victim of impaired driving?

MADD Canada defines a victim of impaired driving as anyone injured or affected by death or injury caused as the result of the actions of a driver under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

How do I get help?

Victims can call MADD Canada's Victim Services Manager, Gloria Appleby,  at 1-800-665-6233, extension 222, where she will address your concerns, answer your questions, and refer you to a MADD Canada Victim Services Volunteer in your area (if applicable) or simply listen.

More information is also available online in the Victim Services section of this website.

MADD Canada has many trained Victim Services Volunteers across the country who support those who have been tragically touched by impaired driving. They are the hand to hold, the shoulder to cry on, the ear that listens and the fountain of information.

MADD Canada’s Victim Services Manager and its Victim Services Volunteers:

• Listen to you and allow you to tell your story as many times as you need to.
• Inform you about criminal justice procedures in your community and where possible accompany you to court.
• Inform you about impaired driving laws and victim rights. 
• Monitor the court case against the defendant.
• Help you prepare a victim impact statement to present at the sentencing of the offender. 
• Help you prepare statements for parole hearings.

What do you say to a victim of an impaired-driving crash?

As in any tragedy, the words we choose can be strength to a weary soul or salt in an already painful wound. Here are a few tips to help you:

• Avoid statements that minimize the tragedy: "You're lucky that...," "Well, you have other children," "I know just how you feel.”
• Do not minimize how they are feeling or judge them with statements like: "Just forget about it and move on," "Have you forgiven the offender yet?" "Well, it's been six months...” or by changing the subject when they are speaking about their grief.
• Avoid providing unwanted advice, such as: "If I were you, I would...," "You should sue," "When my cousin died, her father went and..." 

Do say “I’m so sorry for your loss (injury).” Acknowledge the depth of the grief. Let the person know you share in his or her pain and that you genuinely care about his or her feelings. In the case of death, invite the person to talk about their loved one. Far more powerful than anything that you might say is your willingness to listen. For more information on how to help, check out our brochures at http://www.madd.ca/english/services/resources.html

For more information about MADD Canada's Victim Services, visit the Victim Services section of this website, or call MADD Canada’s Victim Services Manager, Gloria Appleby, at 1-800-665-6233, extension 222.