‘They loved their mommy so much’: Alberta sees increase in fatal collisions involving drugs, alcohol

MADD Canada launched its national Project Red Ribbon campaign on Monday to promote sober driving during the holiday season.

MADD Canada launched its national Project Red Ribbon campaign on Monday in Red Deer as Alberta RCMP statistics show that there has been an increase in the number of fatal collisions involving drugs and alcohol impairment this year.

Chloe Kaniusis’ sons were just a year and a half and four years old when their lives changed forever.

“That is the hardest part of it for me, is the boys,” said Kaniusis’ mother Brenda Brown.

Brown was driving home with Kaniusis, a Rocky Mountain House school teacher, in November 2014 near Eckville, west of Red Deer, when they were struck by an impaired driver.

“Chole died instantly. I was pinned inside for three-and-a-half hours with Chloe before they got me out. It was horrific,” Brown said.

The driver of the other vehicle also died.

Now, Brown is speaking out as the MADD Red Deer vice-president.

First responders joined Brown’s family on Monday as MADD Canada launched the Project Red Ribbon campaign to promote sober driving during the holiday season.