The Whitehorse chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) launched its annual Red Ribbon campaign Friday morning.

Jacquie Van Marck, the president of the local chapter, spoke on why there’s a continuing need for the program.

“It’s the 36th anniversary of this campaign, and its message is to drive sober and drive safely,” she said.

“MADD Canada likes to launch the campaign at this time of year because it’s festive and there’s a lot of parties, and people are more likely to indulge in drinking alcohol and drugs or both,” Van Marck added.

“The red ribbons are a symbol that you support victims of impaired driving and that we would like to stop this violent crime.”

Van Marck expanded on that theme.

“We’re an organization that wishes it didn’t have to exist. Over the years the organization has grown, just because people don’t get the message that we shouldn’t be making the choice to drive impaired,” she said.

“We are making some progress; however, we still have a huge, monumental task ahead of us.”

In a perfect world, Van Marck said, “MADD Canada wouldn’t have to exist, and everybody respected and chose to drive safe and to drive sober.”

RCMP Cpl. Natasha Dunmall was the keynote speaker for the event.

“I think this keynote is more of a personal message for me,” she said.

“One of the questions I often get is, ‘why do you care about impaired driving?’, and my address today deals with how I feel as a wife, as a mother, and a police officer and a sister, and how impaired driving has affected all those realms.”

Dunmall described how, months ago, her husband, who is a Whitehorse firefighter, was attending a collision.

“First responders, working the hectic and complex scene, only to have a private vehicle attempt to drive into it and then around it.

“The driver was stopped by RCMP, found to be impaired, and subsequently charged for impaired driving. As the wife of a first responder, this is one reason why I care about impaired driving.”

Dunmall then spoke of having to tell family members of impaired driving fatalities 42 times over the course of her career.

Her own sister was the victim of a collision with an impaired driver, she told Friday’s audience.

Impaired driving is often called a victimless crime, which she profoundly disagrees with, she said.

Cory McEachran described himself as a survivor of impaired driving. He spoke about being run over by an impaired driver in the United States five years ago, and left for dead.

Some emergency medical care saved his life, he said.

“Drinking and driving has an impact far greater that just one person,” McEachran said, describing the effects on his family members as he spent a week in a hospital, where his survival was uncertain.

The Red Ribbon campaign also made it to the floor of the legislature last week.

Health and Social Services Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee said, “MADD Whitehorse is a dedicated group whose mission is to raise awareness, to help shift our social mindset, and ultimately, to end impaired driving.

“The impacts of impaired driving are devastating, and ripple far beyond those who are directly involved in a collision. Entire families, including my own, and entire communities are affected when we lose someone in this senseless and completely preventable manner.”

MADD Canada’s Project Red Ribbon, the minister added, “continues to be a vital campaign to raise driver and passenger awareness during this very busy time of year.

“While the holiday season is a time to celebrate, we must remember the impacts of the decisions that we make when we get behind the wheel, and remind ourselves that it is never worth it to drive while impaired.

“When you drink, do not drive,” McPhee said.

Annie Blake of the Yukon NDP said, “Each year, we are able to witness the many volunteers, service providers, first responders, and First Nation leaders in numerous locations throughout Whitehorse interacting with drivers to bring more awareness to impaired driving on our roadways while also ensuring that folks are not under the influence of any substances when driving.

“Impaired driving impacts many across our territory,” Blake added.

“It has taken the lives of Yukoners far too soon, causing insurmountable grief for so many families and communities left behind.”