11 names added to Brampton memorial honouring impaired driving victims

Families of victims, police officers and survivors of impaired driving gathered in Brampton on Saturday for a ceremony where 11 names were added to the MADD Ontario memorial honouring people killed in alcohol and drug-involved crashes.

The memorial, built in 2023 at Chinguacousy Park, now carries 175 names. Among the new names added were three children killed in a crash on Highway 401 in Etobicoke in May 2025.

Jade Galve attended the ceremony. Her three children — Ramone, 15; Jace, 13; and Mya, 6 — were in a van stopped at a red light just after midnight when a man exiting Highway 401 lost control of his vehicle, crossed a raised median and crashed into them. Galve, another sibling and a family friend were also in the van.

"Don't ever drink and drive," Galve said Toronto. "One decision can change someone's life forever."

MADD chief executive officer Steve Sullivan said the annual ceremony helps support victims' families and ensures the names of those killed are remembered.

"One of the things that people tell us is that the death was so preventable and so senseless," Sullivan said. "They don't want their loved one to be forgotten or for their death to be meaningless in terms of trying to change public policy."

Sullivan called for more visible police presence, frequent breathalyzer tests and public awareness around how drugs affect the body. "People understand alcohol, but there's still a segment that doesn't understand the connection with drugs," he said. "We need more resources for police to make traffic safety a priority."

Ontario Provincial Police Inspector Steve Heinz said OPP conducted nearly 34,000 Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere initiatives across the province between January and July, and have laid more than 6,000 impaired driving charges this year.

"It's a real impact for us to see the victims, the victims' families," Heinz said. "We have dedicated resources out there trying to enforce impaired driving everywhere."

Heinz urged drivers not to operate a motor vehicle impaired and asked people to call 911 if they suspect someone of driving under the influence. Peel Regional Police posted on social media: "Don't take the risk. Plan ahead, make safe choices, and always drive sober."