Tragically, this cheerful, delightful go-getter, fellow-Rotarian and newlywed died on Boxing Day, 2003. It was not an accident.
He was returning in the wee hours from taking his mother to the Buffalo airport: a drunk driver, barrelling the wrong way on the QEW, hit his vehicle head on. The drunk walked away, Rob died.
Both sides of my family have experienced the pain and awful fallout from seeing a loved one do time for serial drunk-driving offences. With the holiday season upon us we all need to face the elephant in the room. It is our duty to speak up and prevent the overly-refreshed from taking the wheel.
It is clear that there are alternatives, and I want to mention two groups who are doing great work in raising awareness and providing solutions, one in Hamilton, the second in Burlington. You can even volunteer your services and win prizes!
The LCBO has added a new facet to its 4-year old “Deflate the Elephant” campaign. Stephanie Petroff, Senior LCBO Communications Consultant who leads their Social Responsibility initiatives, explained they are excited to have partnered with taxi companies in Toronto, Ottawa and, yes, Hamilton to “get people to plan ahead” to return home safely.
If you are in the downtown area (and particularly Hess village) between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. this Saturday (21st) or next (29th), and spot an elephant on top of a cab, you are not seeing things. Flag down one of the two specially marked Blue Line cabs and you’re eligible for a free ride up to $10 value.
Anthony Rizzuto is Vice-President of Blue Line, which is Hamilton’s largest cab company. When I asked him how they had come to be involved, he said “we thought it was great (to raise) city awareness of the problems of drinking and driving. The Elephant in the Room is a great message to get out.”
He told me that for “twice the meter” Blue Line’s “Home Run Service” (905 525 0000) will get both you and your car back home. He added bluntly “there are around 250 cabs available in Hamilton. With advances in service such as GPS and computerization, it is easy to get one and there is no need for anyone to drink and drive.”
While I guess the same message holds true for Burlington, a group of dedicated Operation Red Nose volunteers are also on tap to get folk home safely this Friday and Saturday (21st and 22nd) as well as Saturday 29th December.
If you are impaired, all you need to do is call 905-634-6665. Earlier in the evening they will service Oakville, Hamilton, Milton and even as far as Stoney Creek. As things heat up they deal mainly with clients in Burlington.
Gary Jack is the local Rednose Chair, and told me that they can still do with some volunteers to help out. (You can sign up via the website or contact him at 905- 516-1513 for information.) “We treat them like gold, and because of the generosity of local sponsors there are prize draws for the volunteers during the course of the evening.”
Gary also explained to me that while the service is free, donations are certainly appreciated. Nationwide, proceeds exceed a million dollars and are distributed to over 100 charities across the country.
And with that, dear Food for Thought readers, I send best wishes until the New Year.
Be well, stay safe and happy Elephant hunting.
Alex (Alex can be reached at fft@thehamiltonian.info ) or on twitter @AlexBielak
Food for Thought logo, designed and kindly donated by Ninka Bielak. Ninka can be reached at ninka.bielak@gmail.com.
Food for Thought logo, designed and kindly donated by Ninka Bielak. Ninka can be reached at ninka.bielak@gmail.com.
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