Saskatchewan Victim of Impaired Driving Honoured in New Awareness Campaign

SASKATOON, SK--(Marketwired - May 17, 2017) - On October 10, 2014, 25-year-old Danille Kerpan was killed in an impaired driving crash. Today, her parents Melanie and Allan Kerpan, together with RTL-Westcan Group of Companies and MADD Canada, are launching an awareness initiative to help take impaired drivers off the road before they cause crashes like the one that killed Danille.

Motorists in Saskatchewan will soon be seeing Danille's photo on a new decal on 40 truck trailers from RTL-Westcan Group of Companies. Danille's photo will be accompanied by a message encouraging people to call 911 if they see a driver they suspect is impaired. The decals are the latest in an ongoing campaign that RTL-Westcan Group of Companies launched with MADD Canada in 2012.

The decals are being unveiled today at a special event at RTL-Westcan Group of Companies' Saskatoon Terminal. Joining the Kerpans, RTL-Westcan and MADD Canada for the unveiling ceremony are: Jennifer Campeau, Member of the Legislative Assembly, Saskatoon Fairview; Saskatoon City Councillor Bev Dubois; Saskatoon Police Chief Clive Weighill; RCMP Inspector Bonnie Ferguson; and representatives from Saskatchewan Government Insurance and Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority.

"Thanks to the Kerpans for bravely sharing Danille's story, and thanks to the dedication and support of RTL-Westcan Group of Companies, thousands of motorists will see this important message daily," said MADD Canada National President Patricia Hynes-Coates. "This is a poignant symbol of the tragic toll that impaired driving takes on people, families and communities, and serves as a powerful reminder to the public that everyone has the power to prevent impaired driving."

RTL-Westcan has been a valuable partner in MADD Canada's efforts to stop impaired driving for many years. In addition to the awareness messaging on its truck trailers, RTL-Westcan is a generous Corporate Sponsor of Project Red Ribbon, MADD Canada's holiday awareness campaign, and a National Sponsor of the School Assembly Program, an education initiative which is delivered to more than 1 million students across Canada each year.

"RTL-Westcan is honoured to have this opportunity to share Danille's story, and deliver this life-saving sober driving message," said Grant Mitchell, President and CEO of RTL-Westcan Group of Companies. "Road safety is an integral part of the culture of our organization and this campaign is an important way we can help to make our communities safer and prevent other families from having to endure the devastating consequences of impaired driving."

In 2012, the bulk transport company, which operates in Western Canada, the Northwest Territories and Ontario, began putting decals with the powerful anti-impaired driving message on its fleet of truck trailers. The first decals featured Mike Knox, an Alberta teenager killed by an impaired driver in 1999. In 2013, new decals were added to trailers to share the story of Keisha Trudel, a teen from Fort Smith, NT, who was killed in an impaired driving crash in 2008. In 2014, decals were introduced featuring Brad and Krista Howe, a husband and wife who were killed by an impaired driver in 2010. They left behind five young children. With the latest initiative, more than 150 of RTL-Westcan's truck trailers in Western Canada have a sober-driving decal.

Impaired driving continues to be a serious problem in Canada, killing hundreds of people each year and injuring tens of thousands more. Together with generous sponsors such as RTL-Westcan Group of Companies, MADD Canada is committed to stopping impaired driving and to supporting victims of this violent crime.

About MADD Canada
MADD Canada (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) is a national, charitable organization that is committed to stopping impaired driving and supporting the victims of this violent crime. With volunteer-driven groups in more than 100 communities across Canada, MADD Canada aims to offer support services to victims, heighten awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and save lives and prevent injuries on our roads. For more information, visit www.madd.ca.

About the RTL-Westcan Group of Companies:
RTL-Westcan is one of Western Canada's largest bulk transportation carriers, with more than 50 years' experience in dry and liquid bulk transportation. RTL-Westcan proudly serves over 500 customers in the energy, mining, construction, and agriculture industries and operates 20 locations across Western Canada, Ontario and the Western Arctic. The company was recently named one of Canada's Top Fleet Employers for a second consecutive year by Trucking HR Canada. RTL-Westcan has also been recognized by Canada's Safest Employers, Canada's 10 Most Admired, the Alberta Business Awards, and Alberta's Best Workplaces. The company is a proud supporter of MADD Canada (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).