Linda and Lou Van de Vorst were presented with MADD Canada’s inaugural Robert M. Solomon Award for Excellence in Public Policy, for their incredible work in the anti-impaired driving movement.
The Van de Vorsts received the award on November 27 at Sask Party MLA Don Morgan’s Saskatoon Southeast constituency office.
Linda and Lou have been volunteers with MADD Canada since a crash involving an impaired driver killed their son Jordan Van de Vorst, his wife Chanda and their grandchildren Kamryn and Miguire in 2016.
Linda and Lou have been advocates for changes to impaired driving legislation and continue to create awareness about the dangers of driving impaired.
MLA and Highways and Infrastructure Minister Joe Hargrave presented the award to the Van de Vorsts and he believes they are very deserving of the recognition.
“It’s my personal pleasure to know Lou and Linda Van de Vorst and they’ve worked tirelessly, for the last four years that I’ve known them, in the fight against impaired driving,” Hargrave said during a speech at the presentation.
Hargrave got to know the Van de Vorsts through his time as minister responsible for SGI. This is the first time this award has been given out to volunteers within the MADD organization and Hargrave, who has been to MADD Canada national conferences, is glad the Van de Vorsts were chosen for the award.
“I can’t think of anybody in Canada who are more deserving of this award than Lou and Linda Van de Vorst,” he said.
Even though the Van de Vorsts were the recipients of this award, they couldn’t have done what they have in their mission to prevent impaired driving without the help of their peers.
“It’s because of our co-volunteers and co-members of MADD in Saskatoon that we’re able to accept this award,” Lou Van de Vorst said.
During the presentation, MLA Hargrave mentioned there were 21 deaths in the province related to impaired driving in 2019, which was a huge drop from the previous year which saw 43 deaths because of impaired driving.
Knowing that stat gives hope to the Van de Vorsts that what their doing is actually resonating with the province and people are making that cautious decision before getting behind the wheel.
“It’s a big drop and I’m hoping that will continue. I’m hoping this year, 2020, there will be another drop (in impaired driving deaths) and that is what gives me hope, is the numbers will change,” Lou said.
Since the Van de Vorsts have been a part of MADD they have been doing presentations at schools, but this year they’ve done those presentations via Zoom.
“When we do our school presentations, a lot of them get that message and get that idea (of the consequences of impaired driving),” Lou said.
The Van de Vorsts are honoured and humbled to be recognize for the award, but they also believe they owe a huge thank you to those who have helped them with their mission.
“We are privileged to get the award, but it’s because of the work that has been done since we got together with the other people in Saskatchewan,” Lou said.
The Van de Vorsts will continue to do their part to stop impaired driving but it’s also up to the public to do its part as well.
“Impaired driving is something that is totally preventable and it comes with social responsibility, that we all look out for each other and we all take care of each other,” Lou said. “And that we think about each other as we’re going out, to make plans to get home safely and make plans if you know you’re going to be consuming alcohol or drugs.”