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About Us
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star: June 14, 1982
| As a result of this first article in The Toronto Star, our phone lines were flooded. Many people called to join and many others desired to help. I was able to interview people for our Board of Directors within the next month or so, including an interview with John Bates. This Board of Directors, of April 1998, is still comprised of some of these original members. |
Three years ago a drunk
driver killed a 9-year-old girl and now her parents are trying to stop other 'senseless'
deaths. Even before the accident, the Mitchells worried about their daughter on the road.� "She wanted a blue bike and I said, "No way, you'll have a bright red bike,'" says Karen Mitchell, who thought the red would be easier for motorists to see.� It was the same with the Canadian Flag. "She hated it but her father and I insisted she have it. "She was certainly visible (but) all that didn't do her any good" Since November (1981), Mitchell has signed up 100 members and spent hours designing the pamphlets that will soon advertise the group, CAID-Ontario; Citizens Against Impaired Driving. � Later in 1982, we were called: PRIDE/MADD.� Within the year we were then given official permission from Madd-USA to use the name MADD-Canada. CAID-Ontario, which is in contact with the U.S. organization MADD-Mothers Against Drunk Drivers- wants to make the public more aware of the seriousness of the impaired driving problem, to educate it about the dangers of drinking and driving and promote tougher enforcement of laws. "I have a little boy, Ryan, 15 months, and hopefully by the time he's 9 things will have changed," she says. |
In 1983, my husband John and I adopted a little girl, Mary Anne. Unfortunately this baby was very ill.� In 1985, I relinquished my position as president of PRIDE/MADD-Canada to John Bates. At first, John Bates refused the position encouraging me to stay on as president, explaining Madd-Canada needed me, � but later he graciously accepted. � �John Bates, worked tireless for our cause. He was brilliant and dedicated.� Although I remained very active for several more years, this gave me the time I needed to nurse my new daughter back to health.� John Bates promised that no matter what
happened in the years to come, |
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It was brought to my attention that JOHN BATES is Claiming to be the Founder of MADD Canada. This is inaccurate and untrue. I have written to the organization to alert them of this error on several
occasions and my husband has corresponded by phone. The Madd National office has responded and states they are taking this matter very seriously. There is a board meeting at the end of JUNE. Even though to this date, nothing has been
changed, we have faith that this situation will be rectified. JOHN BATES is the Founder of Madd Canada. This is a shameful act. I have asked myself a thousand times, why would someone do this? It's a terrible thing that should morally be corrected. |
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Thousands of good things can be done and be congratulated. Thousands of rightful actions can be made. This does not excuse one terribly wrongful action. |
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It has grown so fast and, today, is the pre-eminent national advocacy group for sober driving. MADD Canada has been responsible for most of the advances with drinking and driving legislation in the past few years." The untrue claims above can be found at Madd-Canada Site (That table,� was in Karen Mitchell's kitchen and John Bates had been invited as a guest to sit at that table. Karen Mitchell was interviewing John Bates to decide if he was a suitable candidate to be a board member of the organization that Karen had Founded.) |
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The Board of Directors as it appears on the MADD Ca. site: http://www.madd.ca/about/board.htm
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For those of you that remember the beginnings of
Madd-Ca,�� would you please let the present Madd-Canada board know that you
remember and that the little girl, Jennifer April Mitchell� and the promise her
mother made that spurred her to fight so hard to found the organization� will not be
forgotten. We need your support. This is our plea. It only takes one person to change the
world we live in.� We did that by founding Madd Canada. Please help us set it right again. National Office 6507C Mississauga Road Mississauga, Ontario CANADA L5N 1A6 Phone 1(905)813-6233 Toll-free in Canada 1(800)665-MADD Fax: 1(905)813-8920 Madd Canada: To contact us directly, send email to [email protected] Webmaster at Madd Ca. site: Send site related comments to: [email protected] |
Thanks! We will always be thankful to Don Colbourne, coordinator of the Metro Toronto Police Ride program for all of his help on publicizing PRIDE/MADD. We are also very grateful for the research provided by Evelyn Vingillis, psychologist and scientist from the Addiction Research Foundation.
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The drunk driver, "Joseph Britto", smashed into her on a Sunday afternoon while she
was riding her bicycle to a Brownies meeting.� The Canadian Flag waving from the back
of her bike didn't protect her from the menace behind the wheel.� Neither did the
bright red pants her mother forced her to wear so motorists could easily spot her.
�
(quote from web site and printed info states)
