On May 28

On May 28, 1979, Jennifer April Mitchell
was killed by a drunk driver, Joseph Britto.
Jennifer's mother, Karen Mitchell promised Jennifer,
as her daughter lay on her death bed,
that her daughter's death would
not be in vain. Three years to the day,
May 28, 1982 with the help and support of her husband,
John, Karen Founded the grass roots organization,
Madd/Canada (originally called Pride/Madd)
which became the largest citizens' group
fighting against Impaired Driving in Canada
within a year of its conception.

With the support of her husband John, Karen launched an intensive grassroots campaign to fight against impaired driving and educate the public. At this same time she conducted interviews for the P.R.I.D.E. Board of Directors. As P.R.I.D.E. grew, with the help of dedicated new members, it began to change the attitude of the Canadian public through public education and political action.

Karen Mitchell contacted Candy Lightner who had founded MADD in the U.S. and received MADD U.S. permission in November 1983 to be chartered as a MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) Chapter in Ontario and MADD in Canada. Karen was the founder of Pride Ontario which became the first MADD chapter in Canada. Dedicated in loving memory to her daughter, Jennifer April Mitchell, who will never be forgotten.

The Mitchell's did not uproot and move their family to Toronto, Ontario to form an Ontario Chapter. They moved to Ontario, the seat of power and wealth in Canada, where National decisions are made, to form a National Organization, which they accomplished.

MADD Canada states that MADD Canada was not official until 1992 and that charter was signed by John Bates claiming he is the founder. From this Bates also took a giant leap and states that he is the founder of the movement, of MADD Canada and Pride and MADD Ontario and the driving force against Drinking and Driving in Canada.

From the Governor General�s Office John Bates claims in his biography submitted to the Advisory Council for the Chief Justice of Canada Chaired by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada for the application for The Order of Canada states:

Asked former Ontario Premier William Davis to form a task force to study impaired driving. As a result, former Attorney General Roy McMurtry formed the Ontario Drinking and Driving Countermeasures Office."

NO mention that Karen made the phone calls and set up the interview and that they sat together and it was her determination and heartfelt strength that McMurtry commented on saying with this kind of a mother�s strength and fight he could not say no. Bates made a conscious decision to choose not tell anyone about this. A Legend of Lies. An Extirpation of Truth.

"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."

Karen Mitchell founded PRIDE, which became MADD/PRIDE, then MADD Ontario which was MADD in Canada before she left the organization. We were fighting on a National level and not restricted to a provincial level.

	Drinking and Driving: A Discussion Paper -The Premier's Interministry Task Force on Drinking and Driving
	Statement by the Honorable R. Roy McMurtry - The Premier's Interministry Task Force on Drinking and Driving
	Statement by William G. Davis- Release of Discussion Paper