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In November 1994, I launched Orillia Against Drunk Driving (OADD) in memory of my 15-year-old brother, Tim, who was a passenger in my vehicle when an impaired driver hit us head-on on May 15, 1981, on Highway 11 south of Gravenhurst.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the citizens of Orillia for their support offered to me and OADD in many ways over the past 27 years, as your support was very much appreciated.
I would like to thank Mayor Steve Clarke and the Orillia Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) for the letter of thanks and appreciation I received. I would also like to thank many businesses in Orillia who sponsored and supported OADD. The City of Orillia and many past municipal councils provided grants to OADD for various initiatives.
In previous years, Orillia Against Drunk Driving strived to keep the message about drinking and driving in the public eye. We had an extensive highway billboard campaign, with billboards on Highway 11 north/south, Highway 169 at Gravenhurst, and Highway 12 outside Orillia. We had a couple of billboards placed near Huntsville.
We also, over the years, distributed public awareness materials across the province to various OPP detachments, whose members partnered with our efforts, municipal offices, libraries, chambers of commerce in multiple municipalities, clubs and groups, and organizations that were hosting events.
The OPP distributed 90,000 Report All Impaired Drivers (RAID) wallet cards that we developed at their RIDE check stops throughout Ontario. During May, McDonald’s restaurants in Orillia used tray liners with the messages printed on them for Arrive Alive Drive Sober. We developed electrostatic window decals, which were also distributed across Ontario.
OADD also sent materials to Rama police and Toronto police, as well as to many OPP detachments that held launches to highlight our RAID program as far as Wawa. Also, a few hospitals, such as Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital and Bracebridge hospital, had awareness materials in various areas.
These are just some of the efforts during the past 27 years. My hope and purpose when I launched OADD was to prevent death, injuries and suffering as a result of drinking and driving in Ontario.
It is my sincere hope that the efforts OADD put forward will help to ensure a safer future for everyone who travels on our roads and highways in Ontario.
Doug Abernethy
Founder, Orillia Against Drunk Driving
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